Preceptor Award: Identification of the Regeneration Competent Cardiomyocyte

Project Description Narrative:

An attractive strategy to treat heart disease is presented by efforts to promote regeneration of the myocardium, or cardiac muscle. Substantial evidence from literature suggests that only a subset of cardiomyocytes - those that are mononuclear and diploid - are competent to re-enter the cell cycle and regenerate, suggesting they are a population worth targeting. Thus far, analysis of the mononuclear diploid cardiomyocyte (MDCM) has been limited. In order to garner a better understanding of this population, it is necessary to discern where these cells are located and if they are associated within a specific niche.

Through this award, a student research experience will be developed to expand the scope of a sub-award through the AHW-funded Cardiovascular Roadmap: Bridging Our Foundations to Signature Programs project by employing multiple strategies to identify and map MDCMs and determine if there is overlap between subpopulations in mice to inform additional research in human tissue.

Student: Parker Foster, M1, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine