Understanding how sex differences affect heart damage from radiation exposure

Elucidating Sex Differences in Radiation-induced Cardiotoxicity with Cell Village iPSCs

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10923208

This study is looking at how hormones like estrogen and our genes affect how our hearts respond to radiation, using special heart cells grown in the lab to see why some people might be more at risk for heart problems after radiation exposure.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10923208 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how sex hormones, particularly estrogen, and genetic variations influence the heart's response to radiation exposure. By utilizing a unique 'cell village' approach, the study will pool human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a diverse group of individuals to create 3D cardiac organoids. These organoids will be exposed to different levels of estrogen and radiation to observe how they react at a molecular level. Advanced genomic and computational techniques will be used to analyze the data, aiming to uncover why some individuals are more susceptible to radiation-induced heart damage than others.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a history of radiation exposure or those at risk of such exposure, particularly considering sex differences in health outcomes.

Not a fit: Patients who have not been exposed to radiation or do not have relevant health conditions related to cardiotoxicity may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized treatment strategies that better protect individuals from heart damage caused by radiation exposure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of sex differences on various health conditions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.