Biopacemakers for aging hearts using stem-cell pacemaker cells
Official title: Forcing the sinoatrial node pacemaker function
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11374738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to help older patients with a faulty heart rhythm by using lab-made pacemaker cells grown from patients’ own stem cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | July 26, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL159492-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with sinoatrial node dysfunction who may benefit from biological pacemaking therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without SAN dysfunction or those unable to undergo stem cell-derived therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how to make and keep pacemaker cells derived from human stem cells function properly in the heart, especially as people age. It will look at the heart’s supporting environment, or extracellular matrix, and how it and the beating of the heart affect these pacemaker cells. By testing different cell environments and mechanical forces, researchers hope to find ways to sustain reliable pacemaking after implantation. The work combines stem cell biology with heart tissue biology to address aging-related rhythm problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could provide a biological alternative to electronic pacemakers for some patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows stem-cell–based pacemaker cells can form pacemaking activity, but sustaining function in the heart remains a challenge.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lieu, Deborah K — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lieu, Deborah K
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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.