Biological treatment to reduce ventricular arrhythmias in a pig model of heart disease
Official title: Biological substrate modification to suppress ventricular arrhythmias in a porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11402761 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test if delivering heart-cell–derived exosomes into damaged heart tissue can reduce scar and prevent dangerous ventricular rhythms in a porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $724,148 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164896-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402761 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who have a history of ventricular arrhythmias could benefit from future translation of this therapy.
✕Less likely to help
No direct benefit is expected for healthy individuals or those without ventricular arrhythmias related to cardiomyopathy.
What this research studies
This project uses a pig model of heart disease to see if injecting exosomes from human cardiac progenitor cells into areas of slow electrical conduction can lessen scarring and interrupt abnormal rhythms. The team will compare intracoronary delivery methods to the intramyocardial approach, with outcomes on scar size and arrhythmia inducibility. Advanced imaging and electrical mapping will guide targeted delivery and assess electrical improvement after treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to less scar, more stable heart rhythms, and fewer life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary animal data suggest that CDC-derived exosomes can reduce scar and slow conduction, supporting further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dawkins, James F. — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dawkins, James F.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Correcting cardiac microdomains to reverse non-ischemic heart failure
A gene therapy approach targeting calcium-handling microdomains in the heart is being tested to restore heart function in a large animal model of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
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Better defining non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with functional mitral regurgitation to predict treatment outcomes
The team will use advanced heart MRI to better classify people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and functional mitral regurgitation so doctors can predict which treatments may work best.
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Repairing damaged heart tissue to stop dangerous ventricular rhythms after ischemic heart damage
The team is testing whether tiny particles from heart-derived cells can repair scarred heart tissue and stop life-threatening ventricular rhythms in people with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
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Improving heart function by correcting calcium handling in heart cells
This study is testing a new gene therapy that aims to fix how heart cells manage calcium in people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, using minipigs to see if improving a specific protein can help the heart work better and stay healthier.
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Improving treatment predictions for heart patients with mitral valve issues
This study is looking at how to better understand and treat heart problems in people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and leaky heart valves, using advanced imaging techniques to help doctors choose the best treatments for each patient.
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Improving heart tissue to prevent dangerous heart rhythms
This study is looking at a new way to help people with chronic heart issues by using tiny particles from heart cells to improve the heart's electrical signals and reduce scar tissue, making it safer and more effective for patients with dangerous heart rhythms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.