Aligned with CHOP and AHA’s shared mission to improve cardiac care, grant supports research aiming to discover new hormones secreted from the heart
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has received a $400,000 grant from the American Heart Association (AHA) to help study heart-secreted hormones. The funding, which will be disbursed in yearly increments through 2027, supports CHOP researcher Liming Pei, PhD, who studies heart-derived hormones in physiology and disease, an emerging new field known as “cardiac endocrinology.”
“Our hearts secrete hormones that play important functional roles in cardiovascular physiology and disease; however, few heart-derived hormones have been identified,” said Liming Pei, PhD, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “This grant will provide critical support for a highly innovative research project that could lead to new and better treatments for those with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.”
The funding will help the Pei Lab develop novel tools and models to discover new heart-secreted proteins and reveal the mechanism and functional importance of these hormones in cardiovascular biology and disease. The researchers hope to significantly advance the understanding of how the heart communicates with the rest of the body and, in doing so, identify new therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases and related conditions.
“We, along with the American Heart Association, aspire to advance research that improves cardiac care,” said Daniel Kelly, MD, Director of the CHOP Cardiovascular Institute. “This generous grant from the organization will further assist critical research in understanding the heart, advance our understanding of cardiovascular diseases, and help ensure the health and wellness the next generation of children.”
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the 595-bed hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as a new inpatient hospital with a dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800- AHA-USA1.
PR CONTACT:
Kaitlyn Tivenan
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
267-426-8614
tivenank@chop.edu
SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
