Label-free imaging to check quality of lab-grown heart cells
Official title: Label-free single-cell imaging for quality control of cardiomyocyte biomanufacturing
Funded at Morgridge Institute for Research, INC. · NIH-11309633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses special microscopes and computer models to spot which lab-grown heart cells are healthy and mature for people who need better heart medicines or future cell therapies.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $618,687 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165726-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmias who might one day be candidates for regenerative cell therapies would most directly benefit from these improvements.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking an immediate treatment will not benefit directly because this is a laboratory methods project rather than a clinical therapy trial.
What this research studies
Researchers will take detailed, label-free images of individual heart cells made from human stem cells using advanced two-photon microscopy without adding dyes. They will combine those images with computer models to predict how efficiently batches produce heart cells and how mature those cells are compared with adult heart muscle. The approach aims to identify poor-quality batches early so fewer resources are wasted and safer cells are available for drug testing and eventual therapies. Improved quality control could reduce risks like arrhythmias when lab-grown cells are used in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make lab-grown heart cells safer and more reliable for drug testing and for future cell-based treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Related imaging and machine-learning methods have shown promise for identifying cell types, but applying label-free single-cell imaging specifically to predict cardiomyocyte maturity and manufacturing outcomes is relatively new.
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.