Restoring Heart Muscle with a Special Patch
Myocardial remuscularization by cardiac patch delivery of epicardial FSTL1 and CCND2 overexpressing cardiomyocytes
This project is creating a special patch to help damaged hearts grow new muscle cells after a heart attack.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222459 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When someone has a severe heart attack, they can lose many heart muscle cells, which can lead to heart failure. Our goal is to develop a new kind of 3D heart patch that can encourage the heart to regrow its own muscle. This patch will contain special proteins and cells designed to help existing heart cells multiply and replace lost tissue. We are also working to ensure these patches have their own tiny blood vessels, just like real heart tissue, to help them thrive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced a severe heart attack and are at risk of or already have congestive heart failure due to muscle loss might eventually benefit from this type of therapy.
Not a fit: Patients whose heart failure is not primarily due to the loss of heart muscle cells, or those with other underlying conditions that prevent cell regeneration, may not receive direct benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new way to repair hearts damaged by heart attacks, potentially preventing or reversing congestive heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that certain proteins can protect hearts and encourage cell growth in animal models, and this project builds on those promising findings.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jianyi — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jianyi
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.