Helping the Heart Repair Itself for Heart Failure

Induction of Cardiomyocyte Proliferation via Transient Expression of Cell Cycle Factors as a Promising Therapy for Heart Failure

NIH-funded research Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10981036

This work explores ways to encourage adult heart muscle cells to regrow and repair damage caused by heart failure.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBaylor College of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10981036 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

When the heart is damaged, it struggles to fix itself because its muscle cells stop dividing. Our goal is to find ways to restart this cell division, which could help the heart heal. We are developing a new system that delivers specific factors directly to heart muscle cells, encouraging them to multiply. This approach has shown promise in animal models, and we are working to make it ready for human use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational work is for patients with heart failure who may benefit from future therapies that regenerate heart muscle.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have heart failure or conditions related to heart muscle damage may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that help patients with heart failure by repairing damaged heart muscle and improving heart function.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that similar methods can induce heart muscle cell proliferation and repair in preclinical animal models.

Where this research is happening

Houston, 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.