Genes that help the heart heal
The complex genetics of heart regeneration
This work looks at genes and oxygen-related signals that control whether heart muscle cells can fully divide and help repair hearts after injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10978860 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is studying why heart muscle cells stop dividing after birth and why they usually fail to replace lost cells after a heart attack. They focus on oxygen and reactive oxygen signals and specific genes (including Tnni3k and PI3K-related pathways) that may tell cells to pause or finish the cell cycle. Using mammalian lab models and cell experiments, they will test whether changing those signals lets cells complete division and avoid becoming polyploid. If these changes improve regeneration in the models, the findings could point toward new medicines or gene-based approaches to help damaged human hearts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any future human trials would be adults who have had recent heart injury such as a heart attack and are otherwise medically stable.
Not a fit: People with longstanding advanced heart failure, non-cardiac causes of symptoms, or conditions unrelated to cardiomyocyte loss may not see direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that encourage heart muscle cells to regenerate after heart attacks, improving recovery and heart function.
How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches have restored heart tissue in animal models and lab studies, but translating these findings into safe, effective human treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sucov, Henry M — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Sucov, Henry M
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.