Modeling the heart's damaged border zone to understand oxygen-driven cell signals
Engineering a Microphysiological System to Model the Infarct Border Zone and Interrogate Oxygen-Dependent Cell-Cell Communication in the Myocardium
This project builds a tiny 'heart-on-a-chip' that mimics the oxygen differences after a heart attack to learn how heart muscle, immune, and scar-forming cells talk to each other and help people who have had heart attacks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11246846 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This team creates a microphysiological 'Myocardial Infarct on a Chip' that recreates the steep oxygen gradient found at the edge of a heart attack. They grow heart muscle cells together with immune cells and fibroblasts under controlled low- and normal-oxygen conditions to watch how the cells communicate. The device measures changes in cell function, inflammatory signals, and markers of scarring that can lead to arrhythmias or heart failure. Results aim to show which oxygen-dependent signals drive harmful remodeling so new therapies can target those pathways.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had a recent myocardial infarction or who have ischemic heart damage and are concerned about scarring or arrhythmia risk are the most relevant population for this research.
Not a fit: Patients with non-ischemic heart conditions or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical device-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to limit scarring, inflammation, and arrhythmias after a heart attack.
How similar studies have performed: Other 'organ-on-chip' and heart tissue models have yielded useful biological insights, but modeling the oxygen gradient at the infarct border and its effects on multi-cell communication is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccain, Megan Laura — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Mccain, Megan Laura
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.