Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods for screening for candidate heart failure compounds employing screening assays effective in identifying agonists or antagonists or ligands of vitamin D receptor mediated pathways implicated in heart failure. Methods are provided for the screening of test compounds that can specifically bind to the vitamin D receptor. Methods for screening for a test compound which modulates the activity of a VDR for the treatment of heart failure, wherein the method comprises: (a) contacting a test compound with VDR in a reaction mixture, wherein the reaction mixture conditions permits the test compound to bind to a VDR, including membrane VDR and nuclear VDR. The binding between the test compound and the VDR is compared to a reference such as Vitamin D3. The modulation of biomarkers after a test compound has bound and activated a VDR are also measured and compared to samples in the absence of test compound.