Light-activated peptides to mature lab-grown human heart cells
Optically Promoting Cardiac Maturation Using Engineered Peptides
Using light‑responsive peptide surfaces to help lab-grown human heart cells develop more like adult heart muscle, aiming to improve treatments and drug testing for people with heart conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126533 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will grow human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes on engineered peptide-coated surfaces that encourage cells to align and form tissue-like architecture. The peptides are designed to convert specific light pulses into local stimulation, allowing activation of cells with high spatial and temporal precision without electrodes. The team will compare structural, electrical, and functional signs of maturation between light‑stimulated and standard cultures using imaging and electrophysiology. This lab work with human-derived heart cells aims to create more adult-like cardiac tissue for better drug screening and future personalized therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients; it uses lab-grown human stem cell-derived heart cells rather than recruiting people.
Not a fit: Patients with current clinical needs are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this lab-focused research during the grant period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make lab-grown human heart cells behave more like adult hearts, improving drug safety testing and speeding development of personalized heart therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work using electrical stimulation, mechanical alignment, or optogenetic modification has partly improved cardiomyocyte maturation, but using light‑activated peptide substrates is a newer, less-contact approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ardona, Herdeline Ann Mallari — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Ardona, Herdeline Ann Mallari
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.