How the heart's outer lining (pericardium) develops
Decoding the transcriptional mechanisms of pericardium formation
Researchers are using zebrafish to learn how the heart’s protective outer lining forms to help people with congenital heart and pericardial problems and improve healing after heart injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300974 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or your child has a congenital heart problem, this project uses zebrafish embryos so scientists can watch how the pericardium—the heart's protective outer lining—forms in real time. They will follow cell lineages, find regulatory DNA sequences (enhancers), and read single-cell gene activity to see which genes and pathways guide pericardium development. By combining live imaging, lineage tracing, enhancer discovery, and single-cell transcriptomics, the team aims to map the earliest steps from lateral plate mesoderm to mature pericardium. The work is laboratory-based and focused on basic developmental mechanisms that may inform understanding of congenital pericardial defects and future regenerative therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with congenital heart or pericardial defects, or those who have had heart surgery and want to support research that may improve healing, are the most relevant patient group.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated conditions or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal targets and mechanisms that lead to better diagnosis, surgical planning, and regenerative treatments for pericardial and congenital heart conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Zebrafish have been successful models for understanding heart formation and regeneration, but focused studies decoding pericardium transcriptional programs are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mosimann, Christian — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Mosimann, Christian
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.