Understanding How Medicines Help Irregular Heartbeats
Structural Basis for Antiarrhythmic Drug Action
This work helps us understand how medicines prevent life-threatening irregular heartbeats by looking closely at the heart's tiny electrical channels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11077882 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our hearts rely on tiny electrical channels to beat regularly, and problems with these channels can lead to dangerous irregular heartbeats. This project uses advanced imaging techniques, like X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, to create detailed pictures of these important heart channels. By seeing exactly how antiarrhythmic medicines attach to and affect these channels, we can better understand how they work. This detailed view also helps us learn why certain genetic changes cause conditions like Brugada syndrome and how new, more effective treatments might be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: While this foundational research does not directly involve patients, its findings are highly relevant to individuals living with inherited heart rhythm disorders like Brugada syndrome.
Not a fit: Patients whose arrhythmias are not related to voltage-gated sodium or calcium channels may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new, more effective medicines with fewer side effects for people with irregular heartbeats.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds upon previous successful structural determinations of related channels, providing a strong foundation for understanding drug action.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Ning — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Ning
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 below.