Repairing the heart after a heart attack with engineered human tissue and new blood vessels
Interdependence of Post-MI Local Revascularization and Remuscularization by Engineered Human Myocardium on Cardiac Remodeling and Regeneration
This project tries a combined approach to rebuild heart muscle and restore blood flow after a heart attack by delivering engineered human heart tissue and vessel-growing proteins directly to the damaged area.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300996 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I am working on ways to deliver both new heart muscle and blood-vessel signals directly to the area damaged by a heart attack. The team uses biomaterials that hold and slowly release angiogenic proteins and engineered human myocardium made from stem-cell derived heart cells. These materials are customized to the injured heart tissue so new blood vessels can form and the new muscle can integrate. The work is tested in laboratory and preclinical models to guide development of future treatments for people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have recently experienced an acute myocardial infarction and have lost heart muscle would be the most likely candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without recent heart attacks or those whose heart damage is too extensive for tissue repair may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help rebuild damaged heart muscle, improve blood flow, and lower the chance of progressing to heart failure after a heart attack.
How similar studies have performed: Related strategies using angiogenic factors or stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes have shown promise in lab and animal studies, but complete restoration of human heart function remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coulombe, Kareen Lk — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Coulombe, Kareen Lk
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.