T-Cell Signals in Neonatal Heart Regeneration
Official title: T-Cell-Mediated Inflammatory Response in Neonatal Heart Regeneration
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11417875 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a specific immune pathway involving CD4+ T helper 2 cells may help the neonatal heart repair itself after injury in mouse models, with potential implications for human heart healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $279,391 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL160488-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417875 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable at this stage; findings may inform future studies in patients with heart injury.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage animal research may not directly benefit patients in the short term.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the adaptive immune system, especially Th2 cells and the cytokine IL-4, interacts with heart cells after injury to drive regeneration in newborn mice. The work builds on findings that innate immune cells alone aren’t enough and investigates whether IL-4 signaling helps cardiomyocytes proliferate and shape macrophage responses. By examining how this adaptive-innate cross-talk influences heart repair, the study aims to identify new targets that could someday improve healing after heart injury in people. The project uses neonatal mouse models and molecular analyses to map the pathways linking Th2 responses to heart cell growth and tissue regeneration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new immune-based strategies to enhance heart repair after injury in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows immune signaling influences heart regeneration in neonatal mice, with this study exploring a less understood adaptive immune mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olson, Eric N — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Olson, Eric N
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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.