# Understanding Human Cardiomyocyte Fate Acquisition

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $461,562

## Abstract

Abstract
How human cardiomyocytes (hCMs) acquire and maintain cardiac fate remains largely unknown due to the
limited availability of genetic, molecular and cellular tools. Increasing evidence, however, indicates significant
differences between human and mouse CM fate acquisition, suggesting the limitation of using only animal
model to study human heart development and diseases. Programming pluripotent stem cells and
reprogramming somatic cells such as fibroblasts into cardiac fate provide valuable platforms for studying hCM
cell fate determination, disease modeling, drug screen and in vivo repair. Over the years, we have established
a robust murine induced cardiomyocyte (iCM) reprogramming system. By using this system, we obtained novel
insights into the transcriptional, posttranscriptional and epigenetic regulation of murine CM fate, and
concomitantly improved the quality and yield of murine iCMs. In this research program, we will exploit our
expertise in iCM reprogramming and single cell omics as well as our newly acquired preliminary data to define
the molecular routes of, and epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms underlying human iCM conversion.
Successful completion of this proposal will help to move direct cardiac reprogramming closer to its clinical
application, and provide new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying human cardiomyocyte fate
acquisition and maintenance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9840504
- **Project number:** 5R01HL144551-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Li Qian
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $461,562
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9840504

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9840504, Understanding Human Cardiomyocyte Fate Acquisition (5R01HL144551-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9840504. Licensed CC0.

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