Complement in the heart’s microenvironment during renewal
Official title: COMPLEMENT IN THE CELLULAR MICROENVIRONMENT DURING CARDIAC RENEWAL
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11580896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how immune signals involving the Complement system help heart cells multiply to repair the heart after a heart attack, with the goal of helping patients recover better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL174827-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11580896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ischemic heart disease or a history of myocardial infarction who may benefit from therapies that enhance heart muscle regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
People without ischemic heart disease or heart injury may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
The project looks at how heart cells called cardiomyocytes can re-enter the cell cycle and multiply after injury, and how cardiac fibroblasts and tissue-resident macrophages support this process through Complement signals. Researchers will study how C3 and C3AR1 activity in heart tissue influences cell proliferation and heart remodeling in models that resemble human disease. The aim is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new therapies that promote heart repair rather than scar formation. This work could move toward strategies that reduce heart failure after myocardial infarction by boosting heart muscle regeneration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that help the heart regenerate after a heart attack and reduce the need for transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that certain neonatal and engineered heart conditions can trigger cardiomyocyte proliferation, suggesting this pathway could be translatable.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Rich Gang — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Li, Rich Gang
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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.