First FY26 Launch seed grant awarded

Introduction

This project focuses on a specific form of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) in heart cells, made up of two interacting proteins called PP1Cβ and PPP1R12C. This phosphatase complex helps control how strongly the heart’s upper chambers contract, and in conditions like atrial fibrillation, it becomes overactive, weakening heart contractions and increasing the risk of stroke and other complications. The team are developing new tools to find small molecules that can precisely target and regulate this complex, rather than broadly affecting many proteins. Ultimately, this work could lead to more effective, targeted therapies that restore normal heart function in patients with atrial fibrillation.