Understanding how blood vessels and heart cells interact in engineered heart tissues
Investigating vascular-cardiac interactions in a perfusable engineered heart tissue
This study is looking at how blood vessels and heart cells work together in a lab-made heart model to help us understand heart health and diseases better, which could lead to better ways to test new medicines for heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10996697 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between blood vessels and heart cells in a specially designed heart tissue model. By creating engineered heart tissues that include a vascular component, the study aims to better mimic the natural environment of the heart, which is crucial for understanding heart function and disease. The research focuses on how endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, communicate with heart muscle cells to regulate important processes like blood flow and tissue health. This innovative approach could lead to improved methods for drug testing and disease modeling, particularly for heart failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with heart failure or related cardiovascular conditions.
Not a fit: Patients with non-cardiovascular conditions or those who do not have heart-related issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for heart failure by improving drug testing and understanding of cardiac diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using engineered heart tissues for drug testing, but this specific approach of incorporating vascular elements is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frey, Ariana — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Frey, Ariana
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.