Improving heart cell production for better heart disease treatments
Official title: Label-free single-cell imaging for quality control of cardiomyocyte biomanufacturing
Funded at Morgridge Institute for Research, INC. · NIH-11051268 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to grow heart cells from human stem cells more effectively and affordably, which could lead to better treatments for people with heart diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morgridge Institute for Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $568,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165726-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051268 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with heart diseases who may benefit from advanced cell-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with heart conditions that do not require cell-based therapies may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced microscopy techniques and computational models to enhance the production and quality of heart cells derived from human stem cells. By using label-free imaging, the researchers aim to predict how efficiently these heart cells can be generated and how mature they are, which is crucial for their use in treating heart diseases. The study addresses challenges in the manufacturing process of these cells, aiming to reduce costs and improve their functionality for therapies. Patients may benefit from more effective treatments for heart conditions as a result of this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more reliable and effective heart cell therapies for patients with heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for cell quality assessment, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Morgridge Institute for Research, INC.
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skala, Melissa Caroline — Morgridge Institute for Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Skala, Melissa Caroline
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.