{"id":15934,"date":"2026-06-30T14:28:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/?page_id=15934"},"modified":"2026-06-30T14:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:28:19","slug":"preclinical-development-of-cardioprotective-microrna-molecules-protectomirs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/en\/research\/grants\/preclinical-development-of-cardioprotective-microrna-molecules-protectomirs\/","title":{"rendered":"Preclinical Development of Cardioprotective microRNA Molecules (ProtectomiRs)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lead\" style=\"text-align: center\">Preclinical Development of Cardioprotective microRNA Molecules (ProtectomiRs)<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Grant:<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">NKFIH STARTING grant (152265)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Funding:<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">97 200 000 HUF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Duration:<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">01\/01\/2026 \u2013 31\/12\/2029<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Principal investigator:<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dr. Andr\u00e1s Makkos<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The aim of our work is to develop a new, innovative therapy to reduce the damage caused by myocardial infarction, thereby reducing mortality and the development of complicated heart failure. MicroRNAs constitute one group of small RNAs; a major advantage is that a single microRNA can influence the expression of a large number of target genes. This makes microRNA therapies particularly suitable for treating diseases with complex mechanisms, such as the damage caused by myocardial infarction. Our work consists of several phases. One goal is to identify new microRNAs that can reduce damage to the heart muscle. These heart-protective drug candidates are called ProtectomiRs. In further stages of our work, we will characterize these ProtectomiRs in detail and investigate their infarct-reducing effects in small animal models. ProtectomiR therapy could represent a breakthrough in the treatment of complex diseases such as oxygen deprivation-induced myocardial infarction and the subsequent heart failure. During the planned work, we will carry out the early phases of drug development, thereby providing numerous promising new drug candidate molecules for human clinical trials.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Participating leading researchers, collaboration partners, universities, companies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The project features key contributions from Dr. Gy\u00f6rgyi Ferenc, a biochemist (Szeged, SZBK) and expert in small RNAs, and Dr. P\u00e9ter Bencsik (University of Szeged, Department of Pharmacology), an expert in animal models of myocardial damage and cardioprotection.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Applied methods and tools<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The research employs a series of experimental methods built upon one another in multiple steps. First, new ProtectomiR candidates will be selected based on previously obtained miRNA expression data. Their cytoprotective effects will then be examined in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and the human AC16 cell line using a simulated ischemia-reperfusion model. The most promising molecules will be further tested at low dose ranges. Subsequently, at least three chemically modified variants will be pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically characterized in mice, including plasma and cardiac muscle expression, half-life, and regulation of target genes. Finally, the effects of the selected candidates will be evaluated in rat models of acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pictures<\/strong><\/p>\n\r\n        [slb_exclude]\r\n        <div class=\"row galeria-wrapper mx-0 h-auto\">\r\n            <div class=\"col-9 pl-0 pr-2\">\r\n            <span class=\"gallery-item frame\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-left-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-scaled.jpg\"><img src=https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-scaled.jpg  \r\n                            alt=\"\" \r\n                            class=\"attachment-sote-gallery-big size-sote-gallery-big\" \r\n                            srcset=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-753x502.jpg 753w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend1-203x135.jpg 203w\" ><\/a><\/div>\r\n            <\/span>\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-3 pl-0 pr-0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-right-img d-flex justify-content-between flex-column h-100 w-100 px-0 mx-0 \">\r\n                <div class=\"galeria-box\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"galeria-title\">Gal\u00e9ria<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-subtitle\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-page-counter\"><span>3<\/span>k\u00e9p<\/div>\r\n                    <\/div> <\/div>\r\n                    <span class=\"gallery-item frame d-none d-md-flex\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-small-img mt-0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-scaled.jpg\"><img src=https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-scaled.jpg \r\n                                alt=\"\"  \r\n                                class=\"attachment-sote-gallery-small size-sote-gallery-small\" \r\n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-753x502.jpg 753w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend2-203x135.jpg 203w\" ><\/a><\/div>\r\n                    <\/span>\r\n                    <span class=\"gallery-item frame d-none d-md-flex\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galeria-small-img mt-0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-scaled.jpg\"><img src=https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-scaled.jpg \r\n                                alt=\"\" \r\n                                class=\"attachment-sote-gallery-small size-sote-gallery-small\" \r\n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-267x400.jpg 267w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-753x1130.jpg 753w, https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/files\/2025\/10\/lend3-scaled.jpg 1707w\" ><\/a><\/div>\r\n                    <\/span>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n            [\/slb_exclude]\r\n\t\n<p><strong>Mission and benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The mission of this research is to reduce post-infarction myocardial damage and the resulting development of heart failure through a novel microRNA-based approach. Its value lies in establishing a multi-target therapeutic direction that can bring us closer to more effective and personalized cardioprotective treatments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preclinical Development of Cardioprotective microRNA Molecules (ProtectomiRs) \u00a0 Grant: NKFIH STARTING grant (152265) Funding: 97 200 000 HUF Duration: 01\/01\/2026 \u2013 31\/12\/2029 Principal investigator: Dr. Andr\u00e1s Makkos &nbsp; Summary The aim of our work is to develop a new, innovative therapy to reduce the damage caused by myocardial infarction, thereby reducing mortality and the development &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102427,"featured_media":0,"parent":15124,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15934","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102427"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15934"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15935,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15934\/revisions\/15935"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}