Heart lymphatic vessels and recovery after heart attack
Official title: Dissecting the functional roles of cardiac lymphatics in ischemic heart disease
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11247939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will grow and activate lymphatic vessels in the heart to help heart muscle survive and recover after a heart attack.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 13, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $460,898 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163269-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal future trial candidates would be people who recently had a myocardial infarction or are recovering from ischemic heart injury.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-ischemic heart disease, long-standing chronic heart failure unrelated to heart attack, or major medical conditions that prevent participation may not benefit from these specific lymphatic-targeting approaches.
What this research studies
If you've had a heart attack, this project uses animal models to study how increasing lymphatic vessels in the heart affects healing. The team will examine how lymphatic endothelial cells release protective signals (including a molecule called Reelin) that support heart muscle cell survival and how lymphatics help clear inflammation after injury. They will use genetic and molecular experiments across different animal models to map the key pathways and test which lymphatic functions most improve repair. The findings aim to point toward targets that could be developed into treatments to limit scarring and preserve heart function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that reduce scarring and improve heart function after a heart attack.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies have suggested that boosting lymphangiogenesis can improve healing after heart injury, but the detailed mechanisms and therapeutic targeting remain novel and preclinical.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Xiaolei — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Liu, Xiaolei
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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.