How the heart's supporting matrix changes in heart failure
Extracellular matrix turnover in pathological cardiac remodeling
Researchers are tracking how the protein scaffold around heart cells is built and broken down over time to help people with heart failure.
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-11295408 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this project maps the proteins that make up the heart's extracellular matrix and measures how quickly those proteins are made and degraded. The team uses spatial and temporal proteomics in 3-D tissue models and animal hearts to find where and when fibrotic changes occur. They compare remodeling hearts to healthy ones to reveal hidden pathways that standard protein measurements miss. The goal is to pinpoint molecular steps that could be targeted to stop or reverse harmful scarring in the heart.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heart failure or clear signs of cardiac remodeling or fibrosis would be the most likely candidates for future therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are purely electrical (arrhythmias) without structural remodeling or those with non-cardiac illnesses are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify targets for new treatments that slow or reverse scarring and functional decline in heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies from this group and others have exposed hidden fibrotic pathways and improved protein-turnover measurements, but translating these findings into proven human treatments remains unestablished.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lau, Edward — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Lau, Edward
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.