Understanding how radiation therapy affects heart health in cancer patients
Official title: Modeling Susceptibility to Radiation Therapy-induced Cardiotoxicity Using Cell Village iPSCs
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10993111 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some cancer patients experience heart issues after radiation treatment, using special lab techniques to understand the genetic factors involved and to test ways to protect the heart, all with the aim of making radiation therapy safer for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $621,120 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171102-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10993111 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include cancer patients who are undergoing or have undergone radiation therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not received radiation therapy or those with pre-existing severe heart conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons why some cancer patients develop heart problems after receiving radiation therapy. By using advanced human stem cell technology, the team will analyze heart tissues from diverse individuals to identify genetic factors that contribute to heart disease caused by radiation. They will also create engineered heart tissues in the lab to study how these tissues respond to radiation and test existing drugs that might protect the heart from damage. The goal is to improve the safety and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer radiation therapy options for cancer patients, reducing the risk of heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding radiation-induced heart disease, but this approach using iPSC technology is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Joseph C. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Joseph C.
Related research
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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.