Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of California, San Diego received a $609,574 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 1, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2030. The grant funds basic research investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac chamber morphology, specifically how cardiomyocytes acquire distinct shapes and organizational patterns in different regions of the developing ventricle. The research leverages zebrafish embryo models to identify genes and signaling pathways—including actomyosin dynamics, biomechanical forces, and TBX5A-regulated pathways—that control the divergent cellular characteristics of the outer and inner ventricular curvatures, ultimately advancing understanding of normal heart development and potentially informing prevention or treatment of congenital heart defects.

The project deliverables include original scientific research documenting the cellular mechanisms driving curvature-specific cell shape changes, characterization of F-actin cytoskeletal dynamics in different ventricular regions, and identification of molecular regulators controlling outer and inner curvature cell divergence. Research outputs will contribute to the broader NHLBI portfolio of mechanistic investigations into cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and development, with findings disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations to the scientific community.