# Analysis of Single Cell Transcriptomics and Cardiac Metabolism in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $197,964

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Virginia Shalkey Hahn, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and heart failure cardiologist in the Division of
Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. Her long-term goal is to become an independent investigator
harnessing bioinformatics to answer clinically relevant questions in the fields of heart failure and
cardiometabolic disease. She focuses on the intersection of cardiometabolic disease and heart failure due to
the rising prevalence of obesity and its prominent role in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
(HFpEF). HFpEF is a common disease with limited effective therapies due to its heterogeneity and limited
analysis of human tissue. Her prior work used myocardial transcriptomics to create HFpEF subgroups that had
distinct clinical profiles, one of which was composed of women with normal natriuretic peptides, a group that
was excluded from most all prior and even recent positive clinical trials for HFpEF. The Specific Aims of the
current proposal are to 1) determine differences in myocardial cell composition and cell cluster-specific
transcriptomics in HFpEF using single nuclei RNA sequencing, 2) define the myocardial metabolic profiles of
HFpEF using multi-omic analysis of endomyocardial biopsy tissue, and 3) measure differences in metabolite
uptake/secretion by the heart in HFpEF using coronary sinus sampling. The significance of the proposal stems
from the use of human tissue with strong clinical phenotyping, and its likelihood to spawn precision therapies
for HFpEF that target unique abnormalities in distinct subgroups, particularly subsets of female patients who
are traditionally excluded from clinical trials. Dr. Hahn has assembled a world-class mentoring team well-
poised to complete the research and training aims of the proposal. The primary mentor, Dr. David A. Kass, is
an internationally renowned cardiovascular scientist with >36 years of experience training several generations
of physician-scientists. He has extensive experience serving as primary mentor for NIH career development
awards. Co-mentors Dr. Patrick Ellinor and Dr. Kavita Sharma have expertise in cardiovascular bioinformatics,
translational research, and HFpEF. Collaborators add expertise in proteomics, metabolism, and bioinformatics.
The work is performed in the fertile academic environment at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
where the Division of Cardiology demonstrates a clear commitment and investment in Dr. Hahn's research
career. The career development plan focuses on development of a formal bioinformatics skillset through
hands-on analysis and a Master of Science degree in Bioinformatics. These skills will distinguish Dr. Hahn
from her mentors as an independent investigator with a unique niche in bioinformatics and heart failure. Dr.
Hahn and her mentoring team are well poised to address the most pressing knowledge gaps in HFpEF and
make major breakthroughs toward better care for our patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10748426
- **Project number:** 5K23HL166770-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Virginia Shalkey Hahn
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $197,964
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-01-15 → 2027-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10748426

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10748426, Analysis of Single Cell Transcriptomics and Cardiac Metabolism in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (5K23HL166770-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10748426. Licensed CC0.

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