# Leveraging zebrafish models to dissect and enhance heart regeneration

> **NIH NIH R35** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $960,647

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The adult mammalian heart shows little or no significant innate regeneration of cardiac muscle after injury, and
instead heals by scarring. This regenerative deficiency has major socioeconomic consequences, given that
ischemic myocardial infarction is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and over 5
million Americans suffer from heart failure. Many years ago, we found that the teleost zebrafish displays a
vigorous regenerative response after partial resection of the cardiac ventricle, involving creation of new
cardiomyocytes with little or no scarring. This discovery pioneered the model system approach to heart
regeneration that is employed by many laboratories today. For the past 15 years, the principal investigator has
introduced new tools and strategies to reveal many key concepts and mechanisms underlying heart
regeneration in zebrafish. Here, we describe an integrative program that defines at new resolution the
molecular components of innate heart regeneration, as well as mechanisms by which these components are
regulated. We will harness this information to innovate new methods for controlling the efficacy of heart
regeneration across species, including attempts to stimulate regeneration in mammals through factor delivery
and gene regulation using viral vectors. The discoveries we make will continue to inform the fundamental
biology of heart regeneration, and they will directly relate to ideas and methods to enhance regeneration and
reduce the incidence of heart failure in humans. They are also likely to extend beyond cardiovascular biology
and have relevance to the repair of other tissues.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9890214
- **Project number:** 1R35HL150713-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** KENNETH D POSS
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $960,647
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9890214

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9890214, Leveraging zebrafish models to dissect and enhance heart regeneration (1R35HL150713-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9890214. Licensed CC0.

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