How the heart's ventricle forms and grows
Morphogenesis and growth of the ventricular wall in development and disease
['FUNDING_P01'] · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · NIH-11299540
Researchers are learning how genes and cell signals shape the heart's main pumping chamber to help people with congenital heart defects.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11299540 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or your child has a congenital heart defect, this program is trying to learn why the ventricle sometimes forms incorrectly. The team uses animal models, embryonic heart cells, and molecular tools to follow cardiac progenitor cells and key regulators such as HAND1 and ZIC3. Most work is done in the lab to map epigenetic and transcriptional controls rather than to treat patients directly. The goal is to link those basic findings to the patterns of severe birth defects seen in some families.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Families affected by congenital heart defects—especially those with ventricular malformations or known gene changes—may benefit from the knowledge and could be candidates for future clinical studies.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate medical treatment are unlikely to benefit now because the project is focused on basic laboratory research rather than a clinical intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover biological causes of certain congenital heart defects and point to new prevention or treatment pathways in the future.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked genes like HAND1 and ZIC3 to heart development, but this coordinated program aims to integrate and extend those findings into clearer mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FIRULLI, ANTHONY B. — INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- Study coordinator: FIRULLI, ANTHONY B.
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.