HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION

Finding molecular mechanisms and new therapy

HFpEF represents over 50% of all heart failure, and unlike patients with depressed ventricles and dilated hearts (reduced EF), HFpEF patients have apparently preserved function. There are no successful proven therapies. A major evolution in the disease has occurred over the past 10-20 years, with many affected by morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome. We are pursuing this in collaboration with Kavita Sharma, MD and Director of the Clinical HFpEF program – studying myocardial tissue and other biological samples to elucidate underlying mechanisms and forge new therapy targets. We have also developed a mouse model studying the impact of sex hormones in females which impact cGMP signaling and may favor effects from PDE9 inhibition. These models incorporate obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as cardiac stress.