Modulating ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium release to alleviate calcium leak during diastole
Our heart requires an electrical signal to beat correctly. If this signal breaks down, disturbances in the heart beat rhythm called arrhythmias occur. Some arrhythmias occur because the amount of calcium in the heart muscle cells is abnormal. This can be as a result of heart failure or from an inherited condition, and can lead to sudden death. These arrhythmias arise because calcium is released at the wrong time from a store within the heart cell, called the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Channels called ryanodine receptor channels (RyR2) control calcium release from the SR and using drugs to block these channels is a promising new way to treat arrhythmias in heart disease. The BHF has now awarded a grant to BHF Professor Alan Williams to identify and design drugs that specifically target and block the RyR2 channel. This research will reveal new ways to block calcium release and will pave the way for new drugs to be developed to treat certain types of heart rhythm disorders.
Project details
| Grant amount | £115,307 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 04 August 2014 |
| Duration | 1 year, 6 months |
| Reference | PG/14/34/30835 |
| Status | Complete |
