# Ryanodine receptor regulation in post-operative atrial fibrillation

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $60,126

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (poAF) is a common complication of cardiothoracic surgery with an
incidence between 10 and 50%. This condition typically peaks on day 2-3 following surgery. Very little
remains known about the molecular mechanisms underlying poA, which makes the development of
better therapies difficult. Our preliminary results suggest that patients and mice with reduced levels of
‘Striated Muscle Preferentially Expressed Protein Kinase’ (SPEG) in the atria have an increased risk of
developing poAF. The overall goal of this project is to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms
by which reduced SPEG levels cause altered intracellular Ca2+ handling and poAF. Juwan will test the
hypothesis that reduced SPEG kinase activity alters RyR2 phosphorylation and promotes poAF. In
addition, he will develop improved atrial-specific gene therapy vectors for the delivery of SPEG kinase
domains to atrial tissue. These preclinical studies may lead to the development of a target-based
therapy for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176268
- **Project number:** 3R01HL089598-11S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Xander H.T. Wehrens
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $60,126
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2007-08-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176268

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176268, Ryanodine receptor regulation in post-operative atrial fibrillation (3R01HL089598-11S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176268. Licensed CC0.

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