MMRI research project receives $3.9 million grant

UTICA, N.Y. —The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health awarded a $3.9 million grant to a Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) project.

Led by Principal Investigator Nathan Tucker, an assistant professor of biomedical research and translational medicine, the project researches the genetic risks associated with cardiac arrythmia.

The five-year study hopes to address locations within the genome that are linked to arrhythmia risk. Those can then be used to develop new therapies. An arrythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart, which can result in the heart not pumping enough blood. Left untreated, this can lead to damage to other organs.

“While there are clear genetic factors that contribute to the risk of arrhythmias, the mechanisms through which genetics confer risk remain unclear,” Tucker said in a release. “The goal of this project is to address this gap in knowledge and ultimately lead to facilitating new therapeutic development.”

Tucker hopes to uncover the specific genes that could lead to cardiac arrythmia in order to generate novel therapeutic approaches and guide clinical practices. “We’re doing internationally recognized research in the Mohawk Valley,” he said. “The funding of this study will allow us to support talented scientists and their impactful projects right here in Utica, helping to grow our world-class scientific community.”

MMRI is a nonprofit scientific research institute focused on studying the cause of cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and autoimmune diseases.