Grant: Project Grant

In Canada it is estimated that 1 in 60 individuals live with heart failure (HF) and rates are increasing. Importantly, HF patients have poor quality of life and are 6X more likely to die prematurely, in part through an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias which are the predominant cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in HF patients. Recent evidence indicates that the SGLT2 inhibitor class of drug, which are used to lower blood glucose in diabetes, is protective against HF and life-threatening arrhythmias. However, precisely how these drugs provide this unexpected effect is not fully understood. We have recently discovered a novel target in the heart, the cardiac sodium channel, that may explain how these drugs work to provide protection against HF and SCD. The overall goal of this project grant is to better understand the molecular mechanisms, cellular consequences and translational implications of our exciting initial observations. It is anticipated that this research will provide a rationale for using this class of drug in HF and also allow development of newer and even more effective drugs for HF.