Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment
About This Grant
Project Summary/Abstract: Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived vascularized cardiac organoids (VCOs) represent a promising in vitro model for studying human heart development, disease, and drug responses. A robust differentiation protocol has been established for generating VCOs containing cardiomyocytes (CMs), endothelial cells (ECs), and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). However, VCOs remain structurally and functionally immature, limiting their utility for modeling late-onset cardiomyopathies and preclinical drug testing. Current maturation strategies enhance contractility and metabolic activity but often disrupt multicellular composition and fail to achieve key hallmarks of adult cardiac maturity, such as a compact myocardium-like structure, aligned sarcomeres and longer sarcomere length, fatty acid-dependent metabolism, hallmarks of marker gene expressions, and cardiac functions. To address these challenges, this study aims to enhance VCO maturity while preserving cellular heterogeneity by implementing a dual-modulation strategy targeting metabolism and mechanical stiffness. The first aim focuses on developing a glucose administration protocol that facilitates the metabolic transition from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation while maintaining ECs and CFs within VCOs. Optimizing glucose concentration, timing, and duration of administration is expected to enhance contractility, calcium kinetics, and mitochondrial function without compromising VCO structural integrity. The second aim introduces a stiffness-tunable biocompatible hydrogel system that mimics the mechanical transition from fetal to adult myocardium. Gradually increasing extracellular matrix stiffness during maturation is expected to improve sarcomere organization, enhance myocardial compaction, and upregulate key maturation genetic markers. Successful completion of this project will establish a physiologically relevant maturation framework for VCOs, enabling advanced cardiac disease modeling and drug screening. This research aligns with the NIH’s mission to develop innovative in vitro human heart models for understanding cardiovascular diseases and improving therapeutic development.
Grant Summary
Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment is a NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute grant providing up to $37K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2029-07-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $37K
2029-07-31
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment from NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute before the deadline.
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Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment?
Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment is offered by NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment provide?
Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment provides up to $37K per award from NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment deadline?
Applications for Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment are due 2029-07-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment?
To apply for Maturation of Vascularized Cardiac Organoids Through the Modulation of Glucose and Mechanical Microenvironment, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NHLBI - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.