STRIT1 and heart failure: In mice, cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of DWORF via transgene or adeno-associated virus (AAV) increased SERCA activity, calcium cycling and myocyte contractility, and was cardioprotective in mouse models of heart failure (myocardial infarction) and dilated cardiomyopathy (Csrp3 gene deletion) (Makarewich et al., 2020, 2018; Nelson et al., 2016).