How the heart's atria (upper chambers) form and heal
Molecular Mechanisms of Atrial Development and Regeneration
Researchers are using zebrafish to learn how certain genes control the development and repair of the heart's upper chambers to help people born with atrial defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264919 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how a family of long non-coding RNAs and the Nr2f family of proteins shape atrial (upper heart chamber) development and regeneration using adult zebrafish. Scientists will manipulate gene levels and track how changes affect atrial cell types and repair after injury. The team will connect these findings to human heart disease because NR2F2 gene changes are linked to atrial septal defects in people. Results aim to reveal molecular switches that could guide future therapies for congenital atrial problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People born with atrial septal defects or other congenital atrial abnormalities, or those known to carry NR2F2-related genetic changes, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with heart problems unrelated to atrial development, such as isolated valve disease or non-congenital coronary disease, are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or repair atrial birth defects and reduce later complications like arrhythmias and stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse and human stem-cell studies implicate Nr2f2 in heart development, but linking lncRNAs to atrial regeneration in zebrafish is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Waxman, Joshua — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Waxman, Joshua
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.