NIH Awards $3.9 Million Grant to MMRI Researcher Investigating Cardiac Arrythmia

Nathan Tucker, Ph.D., hopes to identify genetic factors that may lead to the cardiac event

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded a $3.9 million grant to a project led by Principal Investigator, Nathan Tucker, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical research and translational medicine at Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) for research into the genetic risks associated with cardiac arrythmia.
The five-year study hopes to address locations within the genome that are linked to arrhythmia risk, which can then be used for the development of new therapies.

A cardiac arrythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart, which can result in the heart not pumping enough blood throughout the body. When left untreated, this can lead to damage of other vital organs. While millions of Americans suffer from some form of a cardiac arrythmia, current treatments do not adequately address the full scope of the problem.

“While there are clear genetic factors that contribute to the risk of arrhythmias, the mechanisms through which genetics confer risk remain unclear,” said Tucker. “The goal of this project is to address this gap in knowledge, and ultimately lead to facilitating new therapeutic development.”

Tucker’s research hopes to uncover the specific genes that could lead to a cardiac arrythmia in order to generate novel therapeutic approaches and guide clinical practices.

“We’re doing internationally recognized research in the Mohawk Valley,” said Tucker. “The funding of this study will allow us to support talented scientists and their impactful projects right here in Utica, helping to grow our world-class scientific community.”

“We are grateful for the support provided by NHLBI to further Dr. Tucker’s research and are confident in the strong impact it will make in the future of cardiovascular health,” said Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director, Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI.

Disclaimer: The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01HL170051.

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