Noor Momin, PhD

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that affects many older adults. Current treatments help prevent complications like stroke but don’t fix the underlying problem. AFib happens when heart tissue becomes scarred. This scarring is partially caused by immune cells in the heart that release a harmful protein. The scarring disrupts normal electrical signals and causes irregular heartbeats. We will create a combination therapy that links two parts: an antibody (which works like a GPS to find the right cell) and a gene-silencing molecule called a small interfering RNA, or siRNA (which halts the production of the culprit protein). The antibody will guide the siRNA therapy directly to the immune cells in the heart. Once there, the gene-silencing molecule will stop these cells from making the protein that causes scarring. In our early tests with mice, this approach has successfully reduced irregular heartbeats. We are now focused on clinical translation by 1) testing efficacy in human tissues and 2) optimizing delivery. This therapy could fix the root cause of AFib instead of just managing symptoms. If successful, some patients might be freed from AFib completely. This approach could potentially be used for many other diseases where specific cells need to be targeted.

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