How METTL14 helps the newborn heart develop
Mettl14 mediated mRNA methylation orchestrates postnatal cardiac development
Researchers are looking at how a chemical tag on mRNA controlled by METTL14 affects heart growth right after birth to guide new ways to repair damaged hearts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176859 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses newborn mouse hearts and human iPSC-derived heart cells to follow how METTL14 places m6A tags on mRNA during the first days after birth. The team will change METTL14 activity and read out gene-expression programs with high-throughput sequencing to see which developmental programs are switched on or off. By comparing mouse neonatal heart regeneration and immature human iPSC-cardiomyocytes, they aim to find molecular switches that could be used to promote repair. The work focuses on basic molecular steps that could point to future therapies rather than testing treatments in patients now.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heart injury or heart failure who are interested in donating tissue samples or participating in future regenerative-therapy research would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those without heart-related conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal molecular targets to help stimulate heart regeneration after injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and cell studies have shown that m6A and METTL proteins influence cell fate and development, but applying these findings to human heart repair is still an emerging and largely untested area.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Manling — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Manling
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.