Genes that control heart scarring and inflammation after injury
Identifying new regulators of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation using zebrafish
Researchers are looking for genes that make heart scarring worse or better to help people with heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138745 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses zebrafish hearts to find how the gene Tnni3k affects scarring and inflammation after heart injury. The team raises Tnni3k levels and also studies animals with the gene turned off to compare how much fibrosis forms and resolves. They use transcriptional profiling to identify downstream targets and pathways that link Tnni3k to fibrotic changes. The goal is to pinpoint molecular mechanisms that could become targets for future therapies to limit or reverse heart scarring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heart disease—such as those who have had a heart attack or who are at risk for heart failure—would be the most likely candidates for future therapies based on this work.
Not a fit: People without cardiac conditions or whose problems are unrelated to fibrosis are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new drug targets or strategies to prevent or reduce heart fibrosis and slow progression to heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior genetic and animal studies have suggested that Tnni3k and related pathways influence heart remodeling, but therapies targeting these mechanisms remain largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Chestnut Hill, United States
- Boston College — Chestnut Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzalez-Rosa, Juan Manuel — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Gonzalez-Rosa, Juan Manuel
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.