Using advanced imaging to understand heart rhythm problems caused by medications
Official title: Volumetric imaging and computation to characterize cardiac electromechanical coupling
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11064886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how some medications might cause heart rhythm problems, using zebrafish to help find out which drugs could be risky and how they affect the heart, all to make treatments safer for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $376,131 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162635-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who are prescribed medications known to potentially cause arrhythmias, such as antiarrhythmic agents or certain psychotropic drugs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not taking medications that affect heart rhythm or those without a history of arrhythmias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how certain medications can lead to heart rhythm issues, known as arrhythmias, by using advanced 4-dimensional imaging techniques. The study focuses on zebrafish as a model to screen for drugs that may cause these arrhythmias and aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of how these drugs affect heart function. By integrating imaging with computational models, the researchers hope to identify common pathways that lead to drug-induced heart problems, which could improve patient safety and treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer medication use by identifying drugs that may cause harmful heart rhythms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using zebrafish models has shown promise in identifying drug-induced arrhythmias, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Yichen — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Ding, Yichen
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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.