Cardiomyocyte signals that help heart cells regrow in large mammals
Official title: Cardiomyocyte Non-autonomous Factors and Cardiac Regeneration in Large Mammals
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11364182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how non-heart-cell signals from blood vessels and nerves might help heart cells in large animals regrow after injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $654,653 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL156855-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with heart injury or at-risk populations where regenerative therapies could be applicable in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to heart regeneration or those not eligible for future translational studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Arizona are studying how the heart can heal after damage by focusing on how non-heart cells like blood vessels and nerves communicate with heart muscle cells. They are exploring the signals these nonmyocyte cells release and how they influence heart cell division in large mammals, building on findings in pigs and other animals. The work combines studies in cell culture and animal models to identify new targets that could be used to promote heart repair in people who have suffered a heart attack. The goal is to uncover paracrine interactions that could be leveraged to stimulate regeneration and improve heart function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new therapeutic targets to promote heart regeneration after injury in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in small animals and pig models suggests nonmyocyte signals can influence cardiomyocyte proliferation, supporting potential translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Wuqiang — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Wuqiang
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.