Boosting heart muscle and blood vessel repair by targeting Shh/Gli1 and Etv2 signals
Project 2 - Shh and Etv2 Signaling Pathways and Cardiovascular Repair in Mouse and Pig
Researchers are trying to see whether boosting specific signals (Shh/Gli1 and Etv2) can help adult hearts regrow muscle and blood vessels after injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141891 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mouse and pig models and specialized genetic tools to study how the Shh pathway (through Gli1/Gli2) and the Etv2 factor drive heart muscle cell and blood vessel growth after damage. The team will combine laboratory experiments with bioinformatics algorithms to map the genes and signaling networks that trigger regeneration. Large-animal pig studies will test whether manipulating these pathways improves heart repair after injury. Results are intended to identify biological targets that could guide future therapies for people recovering from heart attacks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have had a heart attack or have ischemic heart disease and who are interested in regenerative treatment approaches could be future candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate, approved treatments or those with non-cardiac conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from the current animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that help damaged hearts regrow muscle and blood vessels and improve recovery after myocardial infarction.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal work in newts and mice has shown that Shh/Gli1 and Etv2 can stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and angiogenesis, but translation to human treatments has not yet been proven.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garry, Daniel J. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Garry, Daniel J.
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 below.