Repairing damaged heart tissue to stop dangerous ventricular rhythms after ischemic heart damage
Biological substrate modification to suppress ventricular arrhythmias in a porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy
The team is testing whether tiny particles from heart-derived cells can repair scarred heart tissue and stop life-threatening ventricular rhythms in people with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168680 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a pig model that mimics human ischemic cardiomyopathy to map areas of slow electrical conduction that can trigger dangerous ventricular arrhythmias. They deliver exosomes released by cardiosphere-derived human heart cells into those mapped areas and compare effects to a control treatment. The project compares direct heart injections and new intracoronary delivery methods, and uses MRI-based electrical models and programmed stimulation to check for scar reduction and arrhythmia suppression. If these preclinical methods reduce slow conduction and arrhythmias in pigs, they could be adapted into clinical trials for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ischemic cardiomyopathy and a history of ventricular arrhythmias or scars from prior heart attacks would be the most likely candidates for future versions of this therapy.
Not a fit: Patients whose arrhythmias stem from inherited electrical disorders, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, or who cannot undergo intracoronary procedures may not benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could shrink scarred heart tissue, eliminate slow-conduction pathways, and reduce the risk of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work, including pig studies, showed that CDC-derived exosomes can reduce scar and suppress arrhythmias, but clinical testing in people remains limited and the intracoronary delivery approach is new.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dawkins, James F. — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dawkins, James F.
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.