Heart Repair with a Special Patch for Damaged Heart Muscle

Myocardial remuscularization by cardiac patch delivery of epicardial FSTL1 and CCND2 overexpressing cardiomyocytes

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10996188

This work aims to develop a special patch that can help regrow healthy heart muscle cells in people who have had a severe heart attack.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-10996188 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people who experience a severe heart attack can develop heart failure because they lose too many heart muscle cells. This project focuses on creating a 3D engineered patch for the heart that contains special proteins and cells. The goal is for this patch to encourage the remaining heart muscle cells to multiply and replace the damaged tissue. By restoring the heart's pumping ability, this approach could offer a new way to treat severe heart damage.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is focused on patients who have experienced a severe acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and are at risk of or have developed congestive heart failure due to muscle loss.

Not a fit: Patients without heart muscle damage from a severe heart attack, or those with other forms of heart disease not related to muscle loss, may not directly benefit from this specific approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that help repair heart damage after a heart attack, potentially preventing or improving congestive heart failure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that certain proteins and cell cycle genes can protect the heart and induce cell proliferation in animal models, providing a foundation for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.