Creating a 3D model to study heart nerve connections and diseases
Microphysiological Model of Human Cardiac Sympathetic Innervation
This study is creating a special 3D model of the heart that mimics how nerves connect to it, using cells from patients with a heart condition, to help researchers learn more about how these nerve connections affect heart health and could lead to better treatments for heart diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a 3D microphysiological platform that mimics human cardiac sympathetic innervation, allowing scientists to study how nerve connections affect heart function and diseases. By using human-derived stem cells from patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, the researchers will explore the interactions between autonomic neurons and heart cells. This innovative approach seeks to overcome limitations of traditional animal models by providing a more accurate representation of human cardiac conditions. The findings could lead to better understanding and treatment of heart diseases linked to nerve function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy or related cardiac conditions.
Not a fit: Patients without cardiac conditions or those not affected by autonomic nervous system disorders may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies for heart diseases related to nerve dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using similar 3D modeling techniques to study cardiac conditions, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Deok-Ho — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Deok-Ho
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.