Understanding how sex differences affect heart damage from radiation exposure
Official title: Elucidating Sex Differences in Radiation-induced Cardiotoxicity with Cell Village iPSCs
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10923208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $539,081 |
| NIH project number | 1U01AI183953-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923208 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to radiation or do not have relevant health conditions related to cardiotoxicity may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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 University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Joseph C. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Joseph 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.