Therapeutic strategies for heart regeneration

Ofelia María Martínez Estrada

Fundació Bosch i Gimpera (UB), Spain

Heart failure is one of the main causes of death and disability in the world. In recent years, research with stem cells has increased as a therapeutic strategy for cardiac repair. However, the results continue to be unsatisfactory.

Scientists have observed that the molecular mechanisms that guide the morphogenesis of the heart during the embryonic stage are compatible with the processes that intervene in the regeneration of the cardiac muscle after an infarct. This parallelism inspires new work, which opens up the possibilities for new therapies.

Specifically, the cells of the epicardium, which form the outer layer of the heart, are a promising area of research because of the fundamental role they play in the formation of this organ and its regeneration in adult life.

This project analyzes the metabolic changes of the cells of the epicardium during the different stages of the embryonic development of the heart. The goal is to develop an in-depth knowledge of them to be able later to repair the organ in an adequate manner after an injury.

• Josep A. Villena Delgado (Co-Leader), Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Spain

• Carolina Soler-Botija, Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Spain

Dissecting the functional role of the epicardium metabolism during heart development and repair after myocardial infarction

€438,100