Understanding why the right side of the heart fails in pulmonary hypertension
Official title: Investigating the molecular mechanisms of right ventricular failure in pulmonary hypertension
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11377044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant searches for the molecular reasons behind right heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension and looks for new ways to treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,711 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL161038-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pulmonary hypertension at risk of or experiencing right ventricular failure, or those who could contribute tissue samples or data in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
The grant is primarily preclinical; patients not having pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular involvement may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study heart tissue from animal models to map how certain genes and pathways drive scarring and change in the right ventricle. They focus on EndMT and the Snai1-LOXL2-CTGF axis to understand how fibrosis develops. The study uses advanced RNA sequencing and chromatin analyses to pinpoint potential drug targets that could protect or repair the failing right heart. Results could point toward therapies that directly target the right ventricle, not just the lung vessels. This work is led by the University of California, Los Angeles, and aims to identify new strategies for PH-associated heart failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that protect the right ventricle and improve survival and quality of life for people with pulmonary hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked EndMT and fibrosis pathways to cardiac remodeling, supporting the potential of this approach, though direct RV-focused therapies are still under development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Umar, Soban — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Umar, Soban
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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.