Understanding Muscle Loss in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Official title: Unraveling the systemic manifestations of pulmonary arterial hypertension on lean muscle mass
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11192240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand why people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) often lose muscle mass and how this affects their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $670,786 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173533-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, particularly those experiencing or at risk of low lean muscle mass.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pulmonary arterial hypertension or those not experiencing muscle loss may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We know that pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can affect many parts of the body, and our early findings show that many patients also experience muscle loss. This muscle loss can make it harder to be active and may lead to worse health outcomes. Our project will look closely at patients with PAH to understand the specific characteristics of those who have low muscle mass. We will also explore how fat tissue might contribute to this muscle loss and how it impacts a patient's quality of life and physical activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us better understand the causes of muscle loss in PAH, potentially leading to new ways to improve strength and overall well-being for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While muscle loss is recognized in other chronic conditions, its specific causes and impact in pulmonary arterial hypertension have not been thoroughly explored, making this a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Al-Naamani, Nadine — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Al-Naamani, Nadine
Related research
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This project tests a protein called asporin as both a treatment and a biomarker for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to help people with this life-threatening condition.
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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.