Dissecting the functional role of novel Wt1 regulated pathways during epicardium development and heart repair
Professor Nicholas Hastie is studying cells in the epicardium, the outside layer of the heart, which plays a crucial role during heart development in the embryo and in repairing the adult heart. A gene called Wilms’ tumour 1, or Wt1, is important for the heart to form properly. Wt1 gene expression is also reactivated in the epicardium in adults, after a heart attack. In recent studies in mice, Professor Hastie has identified that Wt1 controls additional genes and functions during the development of the heart. In this project, he will work out how Wt1 controls these genes, why Wt1 is crucial for the heart to form and function properly in the embryo and how it repairs a damaged adult heart. This research will improve our knowledge of the genes and molecular pathways involved in heart development and repair. In the long term, boosting these genes could become a new way to treat people who have had heart attacks, helping to prevent heart failure.
Project details
| Grant amount | £313,679 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 06 July 2015 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/15/29/31388 |
| Status | Complete |
