​Principal Investigator: Prof. Ganesan Karthikeyan​

Disease: Rheumatic Heart Disease

Research Description: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the result of irreversible damage to the heart valves caused by acute rheumatic fever infection. RHD affects roughly 55 million worldwide, causes an estimated 360,000 deaths annually and can lead to serious complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, infective endocarditis and even death. Managing RHD includes medications and valve replacement surgery, but more options are needed to delay disease progression. Losartan, approved for lowering blood pressure, modulates TGF-ß1 signaling, which previous research implicates in RHD progression. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is studying losartan vs placebo in reducing progression of heart valve damage in RHD.

Funding Partners: Coefficient Giving

Initial CWR Funding Role: Primary