Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Novel strategies for mammalian cardiac repair

Objective

Recent ground-breaking studies by my team and others demonstrated that latent heart regeneration machinery can be awakened even in adult mammals. My lab’s main contribution is the identification of two, apparently different, molecular mechanisms for augmenting cardiac regeneration in adult mice. The first requires transient activation of ErbB2 signalling in cardiomyocytes and the second involves extra cellular matrix-driven signalling by the proteoglycan agrin. Impressively, both mechanisms promote a major regenerative response that, in turn, enhances cardiac repair. In CardHeal we will use the two powerful regenerative models to obtain a holistic view of cardiac regeneration and repair mechanisms in mammals (mice and pigs).
In Aim 1, we will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying our discovery that transient activation of ErbB2 in adult cardiomyocytes results in massive cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation and proliferation followed by new vessels formation, scar resolution and functional cardiac repair. Specific objectives focus on ErbB2-Yap/Hippo signalling during cardiac regeneration; ErbB2 activation in a chronic heart failure model; ErbB2-induced regenerative EMT-like process; and cardiomyocyte re-differentiation.
In Aim 2, we will investigate the therapeutic effects of agrin, whose administration into injured hearts of mice and pigs elicits a significant regenerative response. Specific objectives are matrix-related cardiac regenerative cues, modulation of the immune response, angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, and developing a preclinical, large animal model to study agrin efficacy for cardiac repair.
Interrogating the differences and similarities between our two regenerative models should give us a detailed roadmap for cardiac regenerative medicine by providing deeper knowledge of the regenerative process in the heart and pointing to novel targets for cardiac repair in human patients.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2017-ADG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 268 750,00
Address
HERZL STREET 234
7610001 Rehovot
Israel

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 268 750,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0