Using hydrogels to improve heart healing after a heart attack
Official title: Dynamic Biological Hydrogels to Modulate Cardiac Remodeling Following Myocardial Infarction
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11048792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help your heart heal after a heart attack by using special gels made from heart tissue that can support and encourage repair, making it easier for your heart to recover and work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $385,381 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL171396-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11048792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who have experienced a myocardial infarction and are seeking new treatment options to enhance their recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a heart attack or have advanced heart failure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of dynamic biological hydrogels made from cardiac extracellular matrix (cECM) to enhance the healing process following a heart attack. By injecting these hydrogels into the damaged heart tissue, the goal is to provide mechanical support and promote cellular repair and regeneration. The study focuses on optimizing the stiffness of these hydrogels to better match the natural heart tissue, which may help reduce harmful remodeling and improve heart function. Patients may benefit from this innovative approach as it aims to improve recovery and overall heart health after myocardial infarction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved healing and recovery for patients who have suffered a heart attack.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using extracellular matrix materials for cardiac repair, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Black Iii, Lauren D. — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Black Iii, Lauren D.
Related research
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A new treatment approach uses engineered secretions from immune cells delivered early after a heart attack to reduce inflammation, promote blood vessel growth, and limit scarring to protect heart function.
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This project follows adults across the U.S. to see how lifelong social and neighborhood factors shape heart attacks, heart failure, and recovery, with attention to Black adults and regions with high disease rates.
-
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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.