Understanding how multiple nuclei in heart cells affect health and disease.
Official title: Elucidating the Role of Multinuclearity in Healthy and Diseased Mammalian Cardiomyocytes
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11001214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how having more than one nucleus in heart muscle cells affects their function, which could help us learn more about heart health and find new treatments for heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $440,873 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162636-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing heart-related issues or are at risk for heart failure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cardiac related health issues or those under 21 years old may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of multinucleation in cardiomyocytes, the heart muscle cells, which are crucial for heart function. By utilizing advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology, the study aims to uncover how the presence of multiple nuclei in these cells influences their behavior in both healthy and diseased states. The research focuses on understanding the adaptive and maladaptive effects of this cellular characteristic, which could lead to new insights into heart failure and potential therapies. Patients may benefit from a deeper understanding of heart cell biology and the development of innovative treatments for heart conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve heart function and reduce mortality in patients with heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of cellular characteristics in heart health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rau, Christoph Daniel — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Rau, Christoph Daniel
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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.