Candidate: Kelly Chin, MD, is an Assistant Professor in Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She seeks support for career development to emerge as an independent investigator in the area of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Environment: Mentorship will be provided by Dr. Milton Packer, an expert in cardiovascular clinical trials, with additional mentorship from Drs. Lewis Rubin, an expert in pulmonary hypertension, and Lance Terada, an expert on cell signaling. Research and Career Development: Dr. Chin proposes two studies that will focus on the role for the serotonin transporter in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These two studies will test the hypothesis that the serotonin transporter is a key contributor to the development and persistence of elevated pulmonary pressures in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The first study will be a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial evaluating whether blockade of the serotonin transporter with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, will reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with PAH. In her preliminary work involving open label use of fluoxetine, Dr. Chin found that three months treatment led to improvement in cardiac index (p<0.05) and pulmonary vascular resistance (p=NS) compared with baseline. In the proposed clinical trial, 34 patients will be randomized to placebo or fluoxetine for six months. The primary endpoint will be change in pulmonary vascular resistance, and secondary endpoints will include other hemodynamic changes, exercise capacity, quality of life and safety. Dr. Chin's second study will evaluate whether use of stimulants and other medications that act as serotonin transporter substrates is associated with idiopathic PAH. This will be studied using a case-control design with 70 cases and 140 controls, and medication use will be determined by in-person survey. Dr. Chin has previously shown that idiopathic PAH may be associated with use of methamphetamine, a stimulant with serotonin transporter substrate activity. Dr. Chin proposes to supplement this practical training in clinical research with formal coursework in statistics, pharmacology and pulmonary vascular biology. This work addresses several National Heart Lung and Blood Institute strategic objectives, including (1) Improving the understanding of the molecular and physiological basis of health and disease, and (2) Improving the understanding of the clinical mechanisms of disease and thereby enabling better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Public Health Relevance

This project aims to evaluate the role for the serotonin transporter in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Two studies are proposed: an evaluation of the hemodynamic effects of blocking the serotonin transporter with fluoxetine for six months, and a case-control study evaluating whether medications that increase serotonin transporter activity, such as methamphetamine, are associated with idiopathic PAH. These studies are relevant to public health because they may lead to novel therapies for idiopathic PAH, and because they may help us to better understand risk factors for this frequently fatal disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23HL105784-03
Application #
8793799
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-X (O1))
Program Officer
Colombini-Hatch, Sandra
Project Start
2013-02-01
Project End
2017-01-31
Budget Start
2015-02-01
Budget End
2016-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$128,589
Indirect Cost
$9,414
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390