Understanding heart problems in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
Official title: Modeling Mortality in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Cardiomyopathy: Identification of Surrogate Outcome Measures for DMD Drug Trials
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11014435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at heart problems that can happen in people with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy to find better ways to check heart health and track how the disease changes over time, which will help improve treatments and future drug trials for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | January 23, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $664,507 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167969-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy, particularly those experiencing heart complications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the heart complications associated with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD), which can lead to severe health issues and early death. The study aims to identify new ways to measure heart health and disease progression in patients, using advanced imaging techniques and clinical data collection. By creating a detailed registry of patients and their heart health, the research seeks to improve the design of future drug trials and enhance treatment options for these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better monitoring and treatment strategies for heart issues in patients with DMD and BMD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding heart complications in muscular dystrophies, but this specific approach is novel and aims to fill significant gaps in current knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soslow, Jonathan Harvey — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Soslow, Jonathan Harvey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How immune cells affect the heart in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
This work looks at how immune cells called macrophages contribute to heart damage in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
-
3D printed human heart model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cardiomyopathy progression
A patient-friendly 3D-printed heart model using stem cells and gene editing helps study how DMD affects the heart over time and tests potential therapies.
-
Connexin-43 and Duchenne heart problems: a new target to protect the heart in DMD
Researchers are studying whether a heart protein called Connexin-43 can be adjusted to help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy avoid dangerous heart problems.
-
Predicting heart disease progression in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
This project will look for blood tests and heart-imaging signs that predict how heart disease will progress in people with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy and in genetic carriers.
-
Investigating Connexin 43's role in heart issues related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy
This study is looking at how a protein called Connexin 43 affects heart health in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with the goal of finding new ways to help prevent heart problems like arrhythmias and heart failure.
-
New treatment for heart failure in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients
This study is testing a new under-the-skin treatment for heart problems caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to see if it can help improve heart function and possibly help patients live longer.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.