# Core B: Functional Assessment & Instrumentation

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $423,153

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Scientific Core - Function
The primary goal of scientific Core B – “Functional Assessment and Instrumentation core” - is to optimize
bioelectronic technologies for high-resolution, real-time concurrent measurements of cardiac autonomic and
electrophysiological parameters. Core B will support 5 major endeavors that a fundamental to completion of aims
in Projects 1 to 3: Cardiac EP mapping: Advances in analytics for data derived from intra-myocardial multi-pole
electrodes, coupled with the deployment of thin-film 2-D form-fit arrays to the epicardium, will define electrical
heterogeneities across the border zone areas of the ischemic heart. Complementary in vitro studies can be
accomplished in our human heart/Langendorff preparation utilizing either electrical or optical EP mapping.
Neurochemical detection: Autonomic assessment will include real-time measurement of regional cardiac
neurotransmitter release profiles, leveraging electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (catecholamine) and capacitive
immunoprobe (neuropeptide). Such neurochemical measurements can likewise be obtained from vascular
compartment to measure trans-cardiac biomarker release profiles. Telemetry: Continuous monitoring for heart
rate, temperature and activity in conscious porcine subjects. Chronic Vagal Nerve stimulation: Using FDA
approved implantable vagal nerve stimulation devices, animals can be titrated to therapeutic levels of VNS and
maintained in that state throughout the treatment phase. Creation of myocardial infarcts: The UCLA
Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence has over a decade of experience in creating a chronic porcine
infarct model. This model has been extensively characterized and shown to be comparable to infarcts in patients
with ischemic heart disease in both electrophysiological and histopathological characteristics (1). Importantly,
this model displays significant neural remodeling at the level of the stellate ganglia, intrinsic cardiac nervous
system, and myocardium, making it suitable for the proposed PPG (2, 3). Tasks 3 to 5 are facilitated by the
UCLA Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence having a dedicated large animal aseptic surgical suite
designed specifically to support all instrumentation and survival surgery aspects of this PPG and 2 dedicated
large animal telemetry rooms capable of monitoring 10 animals at a time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904657
- **Project number:** 5P01HL164311-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** JEFFREY L ARDELL
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $423,153
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-10 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904657

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904657, Core B: Functional Assessment & Instrumentation (5P01HL164311-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904657. Licensed CC0.

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