In addition to their anti-tumour effects, histone deacetylation (HDAC) inhibitors have recently caught the attention of cardiologists because some inhibitors such as trichostatin A (TSA), valproic acid (VAL), SK-7014 and scriptaid have been reported to blunt pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice12, 13, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HF. The gene discussed is HDAC9; the disease is cardiac hypertrophy.