Promoting Heart Cell Maturation with Light-Activated Engineered Peptides
Official title: Optically Promoting Cardiac Maturation Using Engineered Peptides
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11566193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to help grown heart cells from stem cells mature more like real adult heart tissue using special peptide coatings that respond to light.
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 start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $91,823 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL164348-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11566193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cardiac disease or individuals undergoing stem cell–based research for heart disease could eventually participate in related translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or non-cardiac research projects are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project plans to mature human stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes by using peptide-based, light-responsive substrates that create aligned, heart-like tissue with improved electrical properties. The approach seeks minimal physical contact while delivering precise light cues to stimulate maturation, reducing infection risk in long-term cultures. By improving how closely these cells mimic adult heart cells, researchers hope to make drug screening and personalized therapies more predictive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more accurate drug testing and better strategies for repairing or modeling heart diseases using mature heart cells.
How similar studies have gone: Early maturation strategies show promise but a light-based, low-contact method is novel and yet to be proven at scale.
Where this research is happening
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Retinal cell grafts to restore sight in AMD and RP
A patient-focused program aims to replace damaged retinal cells with organized, transplant-ready sheets created from stem cells to improve vision in age-related macular degeneration and related diseases.
-
Treg-based tolerance to dystrophin immune responses in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
A new grant aims to help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy by teaching the immune system to tolerate the dystrophin treatment delivered by gene therapy.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
-
Understanding how heart nerves affect dangerous heart rhythms after a heart attack
This NIH grant studies how changes in the heart’s nerve signaling after a heart attack lead to dangerous rhythm problems, with the goal of finding ways to prevent them.
-
All of Us Southern California Consortium supports broad participation in a national health data program
A national health data program in Southern California works to recruit and retain adults to share health information and participate in research that uses this data.
-
Short-Course TB Prevention for People with HIV: Better Adherence with Facilitated 3HP Delivery
A trial tests easier, supportive ways to help people with HIV complete a short, weekly TB preventive treatment (3HP).
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.