Sunday, July 6, 2025 7/6/2025

Investigating the role of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in cardiomyocyte maturation

Award Number: F32HL154658
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/17/2021

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Investigating the role of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in cardiomyocyte maturation - SUMMARY Metabolism plays key roles in regulating cell fate and function during normal development and under stress conditions in all tissues and organs. For example, metabolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signaling molecules that can promote cardiomyocyte differentiation; yet how the cell translates redox signals into functional cellular outcomes is poorly understood. Moreover, faulty regulation of this process underpins cardiac-related illness including congenital heart defects (CHD) and heart failure (HF), making this question of particular clinical relevance. Based on our preliminary data and extensive literature analysis, we hypothesize that NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), an enzyme that provides the major source of metabolically generated H2O2 acts as a central hub for sarcomere assembly during heart development. Our proposal is novel and innovative for several reasons: 1) we will employ human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) strategy as a model allowing us to test the role of Nox4 during cardiac lineage commitment, and 2) we have adapted state-of-the-art imaging, genetic, and optogenetic approaches, 3) to test how cellular metabolism is coupled to sarcomere assembly, the functional unit of the cardiac muscle. Specifically, by combining genetic perturbation studies and nanoscale resolution imaging approaches, we will test the role of Nox4 sarcomere assembly as well as the requirement of Nox4’s catalytic activity and mitochondrial localization during CM differentiation (Aim 1), we will test the hypothesis that Nox4 initiates sarcomere formation by regulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at FA-like structures called protocostameres (Aim 2), and we will employ novel state- of-the art genetic and optogenetic tools to derive quantitative insights into how Nox4 regulates CM differentiation and contractility in live cells (Aim 3). Our results will fill a major gap in our knowledge of how cellular metabolism informs CM maturation and it will also identify key players in this process. Importantly, this work will be performed in a human cell-based model system, which may expedite the development of new therapies for the treatment of cardiac disease. The fellowship training plan leverages the expertise of Dr. Laurie Boyer along with a number of collaborations within the MIT community, including the lab of Dr. Ed Boyden. Dr. Boyer is a pioneer in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive cell fate decisions. We have also recently worked with experts in vertebrate cardiac developmental biology including Dr. Caroline Burns to gain a deeper understanding of the conserved mechanisms underpinning regulation of sarcomere structure. Therefore, I will receive world class training in diverse areas including molecular and cellular biology as well as genetics in both in vitro and in vivo cardiac model systems. The environment and resources at MIT will greatly facilitate the success of the proposed aims and my development as an independent researcher.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$2,872 )
2023	2021	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02139	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	2	1/19/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$2,872
2023	2020	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02139	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	1	1/19/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = -$2,872

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = -$47,551 )
2022	2021	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02139	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	2	1/21/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$47,551
														Subtotal = -$47,551

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $68,562 )
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02139	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	2	8/20/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$68,562
														Subtotal = $68,562

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $65,310 )
2020	2020	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02139	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	1	8/24/2020	NEW	$65,310
														Subtotal = $65,310

Grand Total All Awards = $83,449

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Investigating the role of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in cardiomyocyte maturation

Award Number: F32HL154658

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/17/2021

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer