Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded a $249,000 Project Grant to The Ohio State University on July 10, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The award supports research investigating post-transcriptional mechanisms of direct cardiac reprogramming—specifically, how RNA-binding proteins and m6A (N6-methyladenosine) modifications regulate the conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). This research addresses the clinical need to replace cardiomyocytes lost during myocardial infarction, which are typically replaced by fibrotic scar tissue leading to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. The funding extends through May 31, 2029.

The research deliverables include two primary aims: optimization of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) messenger RNA delivery systems for in vivo cardiac reprogramming, and mechanistic investigation of how LGF2BP1-mediated m6A regulation controls fibroblast fate conversion. The work builds upon prior findings identifying YBX1 and LGF2BP1 as post-transcriptional barriers to iCM induction and characterizing dynamic m6A changes associated with cardiac gene activation and fibroblast gene repression. The project is designed to fill critical mechanistic knowledge gaps regarding how post-transcriptional regulation impacts cardiac fate conversion, with potential therapeutic implications for heart failure treatment.