Understanding and Preventing Scarring in the Heart
Regulators of Myofibroblast State Stability & Fibrotic Responsiveness of the Heart
This research explores how scar tissue forms and changes in the heart, which could help us find new ways to prevent heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115616 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When the heart is injured, it can develop scar tissue, called cardiac fibrosis, which makes heart disease worse and can lead to heart failure. This scarring happens when certain cells in the heart, called fibroblasts, turn into myofibroblasts that produce scar material. While these myofibroblasts can sometimes return to a resting state after an injury, they might become more likely to reactivate and cause more scarring if the heart experiences stress again. Our work aims to understand how these cells behave and how to keep them from causing harmful scarring, especially after repeated heart stress.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for patients experiencing or at risk of cardiac fibrosis due to heart disease.
Not a fit: Patients without cardiac fibrosis or heart disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent or reverse heart scarring, improving outcomes for people with various heart conditions.
How similar studies have performed: While similar processes have been observed in other organs like the liver and skin, this specific mechanism of myofibroblast reactivation in the heart is a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Jennifer Michelle — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Davis, Jennifer Michelle
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.