Helping the heart regrow muscle after a heart attack
Project 1 - Endogenous and Exogenous Mechanisms that Promote Myocardial Remuscularization
This project aims to help adults who have had a heart attack regrow heart muscle using engineered cardiac patches and genetic approaches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141882 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing lab-grown human heart tissue patches made from engineered stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes that are pushed back into a growth cycle by key cell-cycle genes. They plan to add a supporting blood vessel network and microenvironment cues to the patch so it can survive and integrate with the injured heart. The team is also studying native signals that might coax existing heart cells to divide and replace lost muscle. Animal studies are used to test effectiveness and to monitor safety concerns such as irregular heart rhythms before any human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have experienced a recent heart attack and are at risk of progressive heart failure would be the most likely candidates for future therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: People whose heart problems are not caused by a heart attack, or those with advanced multi-organ illness or other contraindications, may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could restore lost heart muscle, improve pumping function, and reduce progression to heart failure after a heart attack.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies have shown encouraging remuscularization with engineered cells and CCND2 overexpression in rodents, but human benefit is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jianyi — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jianyi
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.