Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received a $608,173 Project Grant award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), effective July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. This research grant funds an investigator-initiated biomedical research project examining the role of the stretch-activated PIEZO1 ion channel in the pathophysiology of heart failure-associated atrial fibrillation (AF), a prevalent and clinically challenging cardiovascular condition. The project will deliver mechanistic research outputs spanning three integrated aims: (1) in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating how PIEZO1 activation drives pathological atrial remodeling and calcium dysregulation in AF; (2) characterization of atrial-specific PIEZO1 downstream signaling pathways through calcium-focused and unbiased omics approaches; and (3) preclinical evaluation of PIEZO1 blockade as a therapeutic intervention using both genetic and pharmacological techniques in heart failure-associated AF models.

The funded research is designed to generate scientific knowledge on stretch-activated channel biology in cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms and facilitate translational development of novel anti-arrhythmia therapeutics. As a Research Project Grant within NHLBI's cardiovascular portfolio, the award supports hypothesis-driven basic and translational science conducted by a major academic medical research institution with substantial NIH grant experience and established cardiovascular research infrastructure.