Using a piece of the Cav1.3 heart calcium channel to help failing hearts
Official title: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Role of C-terminus of Cav1.3 L-type Calcium Channel in the Heart
Funded at VA New York Harbor Hlthcare/sys/brooklyn · NIH-11109612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring whether a fragment of the Cav1.3 calcium channel can boost calcium entry into heart cells to improve heart function for people with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA New York Harbor Hlthcare/sys/brooklyn NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2013 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX002137-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with heart failure, especially those with reduced ventricular function, would be the likely candidates for follow-up clinical testing of this approach.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart failure or those with conditions that make increased calcium entry dangerous (for example certain arrhythmias) may not benefit and could be harmed.
What this research studies
This project looks at a special tail (C‑terminus) of the Cav1.3 calcium channel that can move into the cell nucleus and turn on its own gene. Scientists will study how that fragment controls Cav1.3 gene activity in heart cells and test whether increasing Cav1.3 expression improves pumping in a mouse model of heart failure. They will use molecular lab techniques to map promoter regions, track the fragment's movement, and measure heart function in animals. Findings could inform future therapies aimed at strengthening weak hearts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to new treatments that increase calcium entry into heart muscle and improve cardiac pumping in people with heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: This specific use of the Cav1.3 C‑terminus is novel, though other therapies targeting calcium handling in the heart have shown mixed preclinical and clinical results.
Where this research is happening
-
VA New York Harbor Hlthcare/sys/brooklyn
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutjdir, Mohamed — VA New York Harbor Hlthcare/sys/brooklyn
- Study coordinator: Boutjdir, Mohamed
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.