Investigating how specific signaling pathways can help heart cells grow and repair themselves.
Official title: Reawakening cardiomyocyte proliferation from structural mediated quiescence
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10999456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how two key pathways in heart cells can work together to help them grow and heal after damage, like from a heart attack, and it's for anyone interested in improving heart recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | December 11, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $566,299 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171574-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults with a history of cardiac damage or heart failure, particularly those under 21 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cardiac conditions or those who do not have any history of heart issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how two important signaling pathways, Hippo/Yap and Wnt/b-catenin, work together to encourage heart cells, specifically cardiomyocytes, to re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate. By studying both mouse models and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, the research aims to identify how disrupting structural barriers can enhance this process. The team will conduct experiments to see how these pathways affect the breakdown of cellular structures and promote heart cell regeneration, particularly after damage such as a heart attack.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that promote heart cell regeneration, potentially improving recovery from heart damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in manipulating similar signaling pathways for cardiac regeneration, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, James F — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Martin, James F
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.