Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded the University of Pennsylvania $169,020 on April 10, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to investigate the genomic and clinical mechanisms of myocardial lipomatous metaplasia (LM) and its prognostic implications. The research deliverables include a comprehensive characterization of LM phenotypes across cardiomyopathy etiologies, application of a validated deep-learning model to segment myocardial LM from cardiac computed tomography (CT) images using the Penn Medicine Biobank (PMBB) dataset of approximately 23,940 participants, and establishment of associations between LM and clinical outcomes including heart failure, ventricular tachycardia, stroke, and all-cause mortality. The project will also characterize the genetic architecture of LM and estimate its association with cardiac disease through genomic analysis.

The two-year project (completion date March 31, 2028) addresses a critical knowledge gap by distinguishing myocardial LM from myocardial fibrosis as distinct pathologic features with different electrophysiological properties and therapeutic implications. Specific deliverables include definition of LM prevalence, distribution, and patterns stratified by cardiomyopathy etiology; enhanced risk stratification profiles for cardiomyopathy patients; and identification of genetic factors underlying LM susceptibility. These outputs are intended to inform earlier disease-specific interventions and support development of targeted prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for patients with cardiomyopathy.