How heart injury changes immune cells and their roles
Official title: Fate-mapping of Cardiac Monocyte Recruitment and Specification
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11520345 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how immune cells called monocytes turn into different types of heart macrophages after a heart attack to understand how to prevent damaging heart remodeling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL166861-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520345 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with a history of myocardial infarction or emerging heart failure could be relevant for future translational applications or sample-based studies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers or individuals without heart disease are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
After a heart attack, the heart’s immune system responds in complex ways that can lead to scarring and heart failure. This project will map when and where monocytes enter the heart and how they become different macrophage types, using advanced imaging and cellular analysis. By exploring interferon signals as a potential regulator, the study aims to identify new points to intervene to preserve heart function. The work is conducted in mice and human samples to connect findings to people affected by cardiac injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal targets to prevent harmful heart remodeling and improve recovery after a heart attack.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown diverse macrophage populations after cardiac injury, supporting the rationale for exploring fate mapping and regulatory signals.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koenig, Andrew Leighton — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Koenig, Andrew Leighton
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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.