Lab-grown heart tissue and atrial testing to understand atrial fibrillation
Engineered Heart Tissue and Atrial Phenotyping Scientific Core 1
This project uses lab-grown heart cells and specialized tests to find new drug targets and better treatments for people with atrial fibrillation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166588 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will grow heart muscle from donated stem cells and turn those cells into atrial heart tissue to mimic the upper chamber of the heart. They will run electrical, molecular, and drug-response tests on these engineered tissues to see how genetic, metabolic, and environmental differences change atrial behavior. The core provides shared laboratory support for multiple projects aiming to link genetic findings to possible drug targets and safer therapies for atrial fibrillation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with atrial fibrillation—especially those with a family history or known genetic variants—who are willing to donate blood or tissue samples or join related clinical projects.
Not a fit: People without atrial fibrillation or those who need immediate symptom relief are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused core.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to safer, more targeted medicines or interventions that slow progression or reduce episodes of atrial fibrillation.
How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches using stem-cell derived heart cells and engineered tissues have helped researchers study arrhythmias and test drugs, though turning those findings into routine treatments is still developing.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Wagoner, David R — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Van Wagoner, David R
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.