How the heart matures into its adult form
Locking and Unlocking Cardiac Maturation
This research looks at the gene switches that help young heart cells become adult heart cells, aiming to help people with heart disease in the long run.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is studying how heart cells finish their development after birth so the adult heart works properly. They are focusing on key gene regulators (like ERR and PGC-1) and how these factors work with other heart proteins to control energy and contraction. The work uses human heart cells and genomic mapping to find the DNA regions that act as on/off switches during maturation. Findings are meant to guide new treatments for heart failure and better ways to regenerate damaged heart muscle.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with genetic heart conditions or chronic heart failure are the types of patients who might ultimately benefit or be candidates for future therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: People needing immediate lifesaving treatments or those without heart disease are unlikely to see direct, near-term benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal targets for new therapies that improve heart function or enhance heart-cell regeneration for people with heart disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies support roles for the ERR/PGC-1 pathway in heart maturation, but translating these findings into human therapies remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Daniel Patrick — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Daniel Patrick
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.