Behind every breakthrough at the University of Utah, there’s a researcher driven by curiosity, passion, and a commitment to solving real-world problems. Research Groundbreakers is dedicated to showcasing these innovators—the faculty, scholars, and entrepreneurs whose work is shaping industries, improving lives, and expanding knowledge.
From securing competitive grants to launching startups and publishing groundbreaking research, each featured story highlights not just the achievement but also the impact. Through this column, we’ll share the personal motivations, challenges, and discoveries that define research at the U.
Dr. Ademuyiwa Aromolaran, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery — Awarded an NIH R01 Grant, ‘Channelopathies of Inflammation’
Patients with obesity face a significantly elevated risk of sudden cardiac death, often caused by ventricular arrhythmias—dangerous disturbances in the electrical signals that control the heart’s rhythm. These arrhythmias begin in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) and can cause the heart to beat too quickly or irregularly, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively. In severe cases, they can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death.
With support from a newly awarded $2.5 million NIH R01 grant, Dr. Ademuyiwa Aromolaran and his team are investigating how chronic inflammation may drive these fatal heart rhythms—and how to stop them.
“Our initial findings strongly support the possibility that direct inhibition of the proinflammatory IL-6 trans-signaling pathway could offer a bridge to new therapies for heart failure and arrhythmias in obese patients,” said Aromolaran.
Titled “Channelopathies of Inflammation,” Dr. Aromolaran’s research focuses on the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway, a key player in obesity-related cardiac inflammation and arrhythmias. His team’s early findings suggest that targeting this pathway could offer a “bridge to activity” for new therapies—improving outcomes for patients with obesity and slowing disease progression.
This project aims to pave the way for clinically viable anti-cytokine treatments, which could have implications not only for arrhythmias but also for broader conditions like heart failure and myocardial infarction.
Aromolaran said collaboration is a key part of successful research discoveries.
“In that regard, as we continue to gain momentum, our multidisciplinary team has over 30 years of experience working in cardiometabolic disorders and ion channel electrophysiology, which further positions us to make significant scientific contributions to advance the arrhythmia field.”
The next frontier? Determining whether pharmacological or genetic inhibition of IL-6 signaling can prevent irregular heartbeats in high-risk patients—and uncovering whether existing drugs could be repurposed for this lifesaving mission.
“Our efforts could exceed the impact of current anti-inflammatory drugs in trial and transform the future of cardiovascular care,” Aromolaran says.
With this support, the team is not only advancing the science of electrophysiology but potentially rewriting the future for patients who need it most.
To learn more about this study and its findings, contact Dr. Aromolaran.