# Cardiovascular Immunology Research Core (Core B)

> **NIH NIH P01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $210,234

## Abstract

Heart failure progression is a complex biological process that is precipitated by the maladaptive myocardial
response to injury, compounded by failure of the adult heart to replace lost or damaged cardiomyocytes.
Conceivably, identifying common pathways that regulate these two seemingly unrelated processes would
profoundly impact therapeutic strategies to prevent, and even reverse heart failure progression. Numerous
observations by members of the proposed consortium and others support the notion that the endogenous
capacity of the neonatal mammalian heart to proliferate fades in the early postnatal life as a switch from
hyperplastic to hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes takes place. Members of the proposed consortium and
others have also previously demonstrated that mechanisms linked to activation of innate immune response may
play a role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, death and even stimulation of new cardiomyocyte
generation. However, whether mechanisms involved in cardiomyocyte cell cycle arrest also play a role in the
maladaptive cardiomyocyte response to injury is not known. Indeed, critical components of the inflammatory
response appear to underlie both cardiac rejuvenation after injury through positive effects on healing, as well
as stimulating cardiomyocytes to proliferate. Therefore, the current proposal brings together 5 groups with
expertise in myocardial remodeling, regeneration and immunology with the overall goal of determining the role
of immune response signaling in regulation of cardiac growth and regeneration. The 4 Project Leaders are
cardiovascular biologist, and thus having a strong immunology presence in the network is paramount for its
success, not only to provide technical expertise and reagents, but also to play a crucial consultancy role. Core
B will be led by Dr. James Chen, a renowned immunologist, who will play the critical role of providing technical
and logistic support to Project Leaders in all matters pertaining to immunological studies. This is a critical and
innovative design of the current Program Project as it will allow the 4 Project leaders to seamlessly integrate
complex immunological assays and concepts into their research program. As such, Core B will provide a
number of essential support services including isolation and characterization of immune cells, performing gene
expression analysis studies, providing critical reagents for immunological assays and providing consultation on
study design and interpretation. The immunology goal will serve an invaluable role within the network that will
enhance synergy, and maximize productivity of all Network Projects

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10821359
- **Project number:** 5P01HL160488-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Zhijian J Chen
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $210,234
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-05 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10821359

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10821359, Cardiovascular Immunology Research Core (Core B) (5P01HL160488-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10821359. Licensed CC0.

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