Heart organoids reveal how environmental chemicals affect heart function
Official title: The role of the epicardium and IRE1 in mediating environmental exposure on cardiac function
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11424424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small research project uses lab-grown human heart tissue to study how environmental chemicals may change heart biology and function, aiming to identify early signs of heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 27, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $302,066 |
| NIH project number | 5R21ES037451-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable; preclinical organoid model study not recruiting patients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients are not directly enrolled; findings will come from lab-grown tissue models.
What this research studies
Researchers are growing three-dimensional human heart organoids from stem cells to mimic the heart’s structure and function. They examine how environmental exposures, like PFAS, and metabolic factors influence heart cells and lipid profiles, focusing on ER stress and IRE1 signaling. The study analyzes organoids’ responses to chemicals and endogenous metabolites to understand potential pathways leading to cardiac disease. This work could uncover early biomarkers and mechanisms that link environmental factors to heart health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier detection of heart problems related to environmental exposures and inform strategies to prevent or slow disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous organoid studies have shown that iPSC-derived heart models can reflect human cardiac biology and response to stress.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Christina — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Chan, Christina
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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.