# Myovascular Mechanisms of Cardiac Growth and Regeneration

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $539,063

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
We, and others, have determined that cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation is dependent on cardiac endothelial
cells (CECs). Proliferating CECs are spatiotemporally coupled to proliferating CMs in the neonatal mouse
heart; loss of CECs leads to decreased CM proliferation; and higher levels of the master angiogenic factor
Vegfa promote cardiac growth in zebrafish, neonatal mice, and humans. Based on these studies, our
overall hypothesis is that activated, proliferating CECs instruct CM proliferation. Here, we propose studies
to determine how CECs promote CM proliferation. We will use scRNA-seq and spatial modeling to identify
the specific subset of CECs physically associated with proliferating CMs; we will determine how Ezh2-
mediated chromatin remodeling coordinates CEC activation with CM proliferation; and we will define the
potency of CEC-induced growth factors to stimulate CM proliferation. This work will result in new cellular,
epigenetic, and paracrine mechanisms for CEC-induced cardiac growth and has high potential to inform
methods for therapeutic heart regeneration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10364312
- **Project number:** 1R01HL157277-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RAVI KARRA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $539,063
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-01-01 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10364312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10364312, Myovascular Mechanisms of Cardiac Growth and Regeneration (1R01HL157277-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10364312. Licensed CC0.

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