Understanding how signals control heart cell growth during development
Official title: Signal-dependent regulation of cardiac progenitor proliferation
Funded at Swarthmore College · NIH-11043504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how certain signals help heart cells grow and divide before birth, using a simple organism to learn more about heart development, which could lead to better treatments for congenital heart issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Swarthmore College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Swarthmore, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $439,065 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HL173851-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with congenital heart defects or those at risk of developing such conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acquired heart conditions unrelated to congenital defects may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific signals influence the growth and division of heart cell progenitors during prenatal development. By studying a simple organism related to vertebrates, the researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms that regulate the proliferation of cardiac progenitor cells. The project will explore how different populations of these cells respond to various signals, which could lead to better understanding and treatment of congenital heart disorders. Patients may benefit from insights gained into heart development and potential new therapies for heart defects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options for congenital heart disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores novel approaches, similar studies in other organisms have shown promise in understanding heart development.
Where this research is happening
-
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davidson, Bradley J — Swarthmore College
- Study coordinator: Davidson, Bradley J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how certain pesticides affect the nervous system using a freshwater organism.
This study is looking at how certain pesticides might affect the brain development of children, using a small freshwater worm to help find out which proteins are involved in breaking down these chemicals, so we can better understand the potential risks to human health.
-
Testing chemicals for their effects on brain development using planarians
This study is looking at how certain chemicals in the environment might affect brain development in young people by testing them on planarians, a type of flatworm, to see how these chemicals impact their behavior and brain function.
-
Understanding how blood cell precursors respond to immune signals
This study is looking at how early red blood cells sense important molecules that help our immune system, and it aims to understand how this affects the way red blood cells develop and work, which could lead to better treatments for blood-related and immune conditions.
-
Understanding RNA from specific regions of the human genome
This study is looking at how certain parts of our DNA make RNA in cancer cells, which can help us understand how these changes might affect cancer growth, and it could lead to new insights that benefit patients like you.
-
Understanding how nerve signals influence heart cell growth in a marine organism.
This study looks at how nerve connections to the heart help heart cells grow in a sea creature called Ciona robusta, and it hopes to find ways to improve heart health that could also help people with heart problems.
-
Developing a new tool to screen treatments for poisoning from organophosphorus agents
This study is working on a new way to quickly find helpful treatments for people who have been poisoned by certain chemicals, like pesticides, so that we can reduce serious health problems and save lives after such exposures.
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.