Understanding how obesity leads to heart rhythm problems
Official title: Mechanisms of Obesity-induced Atrial Fibrillation
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11040641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight might lead to heart rhythm problems and is testing if fixing certain molecules in the body can help prevent these issues, which could lead to new treatments for people at risk of heart problems because of obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 22, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $769,761 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL177651-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who are obese and at risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not have a risk of atrial fibrillation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder. It focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that link obesity to AF, particularly through the NAD+ pathway and the Atf6 ER stress pathway. Using a mouse model, the researchers will explore how correcting NAD+ levels can potentially prevent or reduce AF. The goal is to uncover new treatment strategies that could help patients at risk of AF due to obesity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation in obese individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, but this specific approach focusing on obesity and NAD+ pathways is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lo, James C — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Lo, James C
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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.