Using patient stem cells to understand and treat heart disease
Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Disease Modeling
This work uses special stem cells from patients to learn more about a common inherited heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy and find new ways to help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092199 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common inherited heart condition that currently lacks specific treatments. A key feature of DCM is the buildup of scar tissue in the heart, called cardiac fibrosis, which can severely weaken heart function. This project uses patient-specific stem cells to create heart muscle cells and scar-forming cells in the lab. By studying these cells, we can understand how genetic changes in DCM lead to scar tissue formation and heart problems. We also plan to use advanced gene-editing tools to find new ways to target and manage DCM.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research focuses on understanding dilated cardiomyopathy, particularly in patients with inherited forms of the condition.
Not a fit: Patients without dilated cardiomyopathy or those whose condition is not related to the specific genetic mutations being studied may not directly benefit from this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to manage dilated cardiomyopathy by targeting the specific genetic changes that cause heart scarring.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of patient-specific stem cells and CRISPR technology for disease modeling is an established approach, identifying gene/mutation-specific druggable targets for DCM fibrosis represents a novel and promising direction.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Joseph C. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Joseph C.
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.