Why the heart enlarges with mitral valve leakage (mitral regurgitation)
Official title: Mechanism of Eccentric Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Secondary to Mitral Regurgitation
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11321256 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how leaking of the mitral valve causes heart muscle cells to stretch and the left ventricle to enlarge in adults with mitral regurgitation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,272 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166513-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321256 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation or related left ventricular enlargement would be the most relevant group for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without mitral valve leakage, pediatric patients, or those whose heart failure is due to unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
This work aims to explain the molecular steps that make the heart remodel and enlarge when the mitral valve leaks. The team will use laboratory and animal models and molecular analyses to trace how cardiac muscle cells change shape and size, with a focus on the ATM protein's role. They will examine heart tissue, cell signaling, and structural changes to connect valve leakage to the eccentric hypertrophy that leads to heart failure. The findings are intended to point to molecular targets for future therapies or tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify molecular targets that help prevent or slow heart weakening in people with mitral regurgitation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior large-animal and some rat models have explored mitral regurgitation, but robust mouse models and targeted molecular work on ATM in this setting are limited and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drakos, Stavros George — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Drakos, Stavros George
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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EVOLVE-MR: Extending Valve-Surgery Outcomes to Real-World Patients with Mitral Regurgitation
Aims to make the evidence from landmark valve surgery trials applicable to the everyday patients with mitral regurgitation by linking trial data with Medicare records to understand real-world outcomes.
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Decoupling heart valve fibrosis from ventricular remodeling in degenerative mitral regurgitation
A medication-based approach aims to block a specific serotonin receptor to prevent harmful changes in the heart valve and surrounding tissue for people with degenerative mitral regurgitation.
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Better defining non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with functional mitral regurgitation to predict treatment outcomes
The team will use advanced heart MRI to better classify people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and functional mitral regurgitation so doctors can predict which treatments may work best.
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Comparing two treatments for severe mitral regurgitation
This study is looking at how two different treatments for degenerative mitral regurgitation—one done through a small tube and the other through traditional surgery—affect patients' health and experiences, so we can better understand which option might work best for you over time.
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Understanding heart muscle changes due to mitral valve problems
This study looks at how the heart changes when someone has mitral regurgitation, a common heart valve problem, and aims to understand why the heart can become enlarged and weak over time, which could help find better ways to treat patients with this condition.
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Improving treatment predictions for heart patients with mitral valve issues
This study is looking at how to better understand and treat heart problems in people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and leaky heart valves, using advanced imaging techniques to help doctors choose the best treatments for each patient.
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.