Connecting gene patterns in heart cells to how the heart beats
Mechanistic modeling to link scRNAseq data to physiological predictions
This project uses single-cell gene data and computer models to predict how different types of heart muscle cells change electrical activity and calcium signals, which could help people with heart conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170745 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will make heart muscle cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells and read each cell’s gene activity using single-cell RNA sequencing. They will build mechanistic computer models to link those gene patterns to predicted electrical signals and calcium handling in the cells. Lab experiments measuring action potentials and intracellular calcium waves will test the model predictions. The aim is to create tools that let scientists turn gene-level differences into testable ideas about cell and heart function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with heart conditions who can donate blood or skin samples for iPSC creation, or healthy volunteers willing to provide comparison samples.
Not a fit: People needing immediate clinical treatment for heart failure or acute cardiac events are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify which cell types drive abnormal heart rhythms and guide development of more precise treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies have linked gene profiles to cell function in other tissues, but applying mechanistic modeling to single-cell heart data is a novel and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sobie, Eric a — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sobie, Eric a
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.