New regulators of heart fibrosis and inflammation in zebrafish
Official title: Identifying new regulators of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation using zebrafish
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11397612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how genetic factors control heart scarring after injury, with potential implications for people with heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $391,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164749-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a direct patient recruitment study; findings may inform future research applicable to people with heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
This grant itself does not recruit patients and does not provide direct benefits to individuals now.
What this research studies
This project uses zebrafish to uncover genetic players that influence how the heart forms scar tissue after damage. By studying the Tnni3k gene and its downstream effects, researchers hope to reveal targets that could prevent excessive fibrosis and improve healing. The work combines genetic manipulation, injury models, and transcriptional profiling to map how changes in this kinase affect heart remodeling. The findings could point toward new avenues for therapies to protect heart function after injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it may identify new targets to prevent dangerous heart scarring and preserve heart function in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Animal models have shown that altering Tnni3k levels affects heart fibrosis, suggesting promise but still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzalez-Rosa, Juan Manuel — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Gonzalez-Rosa, Juan Manuel
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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.