# Therapeutic activation of AMPK for the aging right heart

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING · 2022 · $144,500

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overarching goal of this application is to understand sex differences right ventricular (RV) function and how
these differences change across the life-course. Dr. Bruns is a current K01 awardee (K01 AG058819) with
growing expertise in cardiac aging and a strong interest in how sex differences contribute to cardiac aging. In
age-related left-sided heart failure as well as other clinical contexts, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is the
strongest predictor of mortality. However, despite the clear link between right heart function and survival, very
little is known about RV function with age and no RV-directed therapies exist. Through ongoing work as part of
the parent K01, we have identified preliminary sex differences in RV pathogenesis and in the RV response to
therapeutic interventions. However, the parent award is underpowered to mechanistically understand the
differences in male and female RV function and how it changes with advanced age. Therefore, the aim of this
supplement is to mechanistically investigate RV sex differences using a translationally relevant pre-clinical
model of RV-centric disease. We will assess myofilament-mediated mechanisms of age- and sex differences
in RV function- a primary focus of the training and scientific training of the parent award. Therefore, the
experiments we propose are well within the scope of the parent award. We will achieve this goal by increasing
sample sizes to increase power to statistically analyze sex differences. The outcomes achieved by this
supplement will advance the ORWH strategic goal of promoting rigorous research that improves fundamental
understanding of how sex influences the aging RV and RV disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10555925
- **Project number:** 3K01AG058810-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
- **Principal Investigator:** Danielle Reuland Bruns
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $144,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10555925

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10555925, Therapeutic activation of AMPK for the aging right heart (3K01AG058810-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10555925. Licensed CC0.

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