# Novel strategies to resolve metabolic defects in the diabetic heart

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $478,956

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is an independent risk factor for heart failure characterized by diastolic dysfunction
and left ventricular hypertrophy. Diabetic cardiomyopathy features striking changes in cardiomyocyte fuel
metabolism, which promote the transition into an advanced pathological state. Alterations in fuel metabolism
include an increased reliance on fatty acid oxidation for mechanical energy production, at the expense of other
substrates such as glucose. The resultant loss of metabolic flexibility can result in reduced cardiac work
efficiency and contractile dysfunction. The cellular mechanisms that drive changes in fuel substrate utilization
are not fully understood, and this deficiency represents a major impediment to the development of novel
treatments. In this proposal, we aim to investigate the utility of a novel peptide – adropin – to reverse the fuel
metabolism defects observed in diabetic cardiomyopathy. In Aim 1, we will investigate the effects of adropin on
novel cellular pathways that regulate glucose oxidation in the heart. In Aim 2, we will examine the role played
by adropin signaling pathways in regulating mitochondrial fuel metabolism. In Aim 3, we will examine whether
adropin is a candidate molecule for diabetic cardiomyopathy treatment in pre-clinical animal models. It is
expected that these studies will elucidate new cellular pathways that are central to the metabolic dysfunction
observed in diabetic cardiomyopathy, and will highlight potential new treatment pathways for this disorder.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10126053
- **Project number:** 5R01HL147861-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Iain Scott
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $478,956
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10126053

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10126053, Novel strategies to resolve metabolic defects in the diabetic heart (5R01HL147861-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10126053. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*