New Investigator Research Grant Program

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Patients and cancer survivors of acute myeloid leukemia are at an increased risk of dying from heart failure. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of the fundamental biological processes that are central to driving remodeling in the heart are desperately needed. Metabolic alterations contribute to disease progression during leukemia. Our study seeks to characterize these metabolic alterations, understand how they compromise cardiac function, develop models of leukemia to study metabolism in vivo and design targeted therapies to prevent cardiac remodeling and restore normal cardiac contractile function. Our lab uses metabolic flux analysis and computational tools to study how leukemic cells impact cardiac energy substrate metabolism and protein synthesis. We will generate models of acute myeloid leukemia in mice targeting two common mutations that impair cellular energy provision and epigenetic regulation. Using this innovative model system we will mechanistically dissect how leukemic cells impair cardiac metabolism and promote structural remodeling. Our study offers the unique opportunity for cross-disciplinary interaction between a diverse team of cardiology and oncology experts and the application of cutting-edge technology to elucidate oncometabolic remodeling in the heart. Ultimately these findings will improve risk stratification and therapy for cancer patients.