Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Case Western Reserve University's Office of Research Administration, in affiliation with University Hospitals of Cleveland, received a $2.74 million Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) effective July 15, 2026, with anticipated completion by June 30, 2028. The award supports basic research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) modulates cardiac contractile function through phosphorylation-based regulation. The research employs a multidisciplinary, vertically integrated experimental approach spanning molecular and cellular studies to determine how distinct cMyBP-C conformations regulate myosin activation states and force generation in cardiac muscle.

The project delivers research services and scientific deliverables addressing a critical knowledge gap in cardiac muscle regulation. By investigating how phosphorylation of both the N-terminal and central domains of cMyBP-C affects thick filament structure and in vivo cardiac function, the funded work is expected to yield novel insights into myosin conformational state manipulation as an emerging therapeutic strategy for treating cardiomyopathies. Findings from this basic research effort will advance understanding of actomyosin interactions and support the development of interventions to improve cardiac performance.