Heart & Lung Diseases

Our researchers are seeking to harness the regenerative capacity of cardiac stem cells to reverse heart muscle damage and developing cell and gene therapies to regenerate damaged lungs.
A masked UCLA researcher extracts contents from a vape for testing.

Our researchers leverage stem cells Cells that have the ability to differentiate into multiple types of cells and make an unlimited number of copies of themselves. stem cells Cells that have the ability to differentiate into multiple types of cells and make an unlimited number of copies of themselves. to uncover the cellular and genetic mechanisms underpinning heart and lung development, disease and repair. The foundational knowledge that these studies yield is informing the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for a host of diseases including heart failure, lung cancer and cystic fibrosis Excessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure. fibrosis Excessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure..

Center scientists are applying new insights into the genetic, metabolic and immunological intricacies of healthy heart formation to devise strategies to prevent congenital heart disease and treat heart valve conditions. Specifically addressing the limited regenerative capacity of the heart post-heart attack, they're pursuing methods to limit scar tissue growth and drive regeneration and repair in this critical organ.

In the field of respiratory health, center researchers employ stem cell-derived 3D human lung organoids to model complex lung diseases, lung cancer, breathing problems and infections. These organoids have also transformed the way scientists study the effects of genetic mutations and drugs on the lungs, bolstering their efforts to develop novel gene therapies and immunotherapies.

  • Engineer new drug and stem cell-based therapies that enhance tissue repair, reverse tissue damage and extend the lives of patients after heart attacks 
  • Enhance the efficacy of treatments for advanced-stage lung cancer by combining immunotherapy A type of treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer, infections and other diseases. This approach has revolutionized cancer care and is also being applied in experimental treatments for HIV, lupus and other conditions. immunotherapy A type of treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer, infections and other diseases. This approach has revolutionized cancer care and is also being applied in experimental treatments for HIV, lupus and other conditions. drugs with direct injections of genetically modified, patient-specific Refers to a therapeutic product that is specifically formulated for or customized to a particular patient. In patient-specific cell therapies, a patient's cells are either genetically engineered, expanded or reprogrammed and differentiated to produce cells that same patient needs for treatment. patient-specific Refers to a therapeutic product that is specifically formulated for or customized to a particular patient. In patient-specific cell therapies, a patient's cells are either genetically engineered, expanded or reprogrammed and differentiated to produce cells that same patient needs for treatment. immune cells into tumors
  • Develop a gene therapy A technique that uses a gene or gene(s) to prevent, treat or cure a disease or disorder. Most gene therapies work by adding a healthy version of a gene to replace one that is defective or missing into the genome of particular cells. Some of these therapies use viral vectors to deliver genes into target cells. gene therapy A technique that uses a gene or gene(s) to prevent, treat or cure a disease or disorder. Most gene therapies work by adding a healthy version of a gene to replace one that is defective or missing into the genome of particular cells. Some of these therapies use viral vectors to deliver genes into target cells. for cystic fibrosis Excessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure. fibrosis Excessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure. that uses nanotechnology to reach disease-affected airway stem cells Cells that have the ability to differentiate into multiple types of cells and make an unlimited number of copies of themselves. stem cells Cells that have the ability to differentiate into multiple types of cells and make an unlimited number of copies of themselves. without injuring the lungs 
  • Investigate how healthy heart valves form and develop new, less-invasive treatments for heart valve disorders caused by congenital defects, aging or disease
  • Devise new lung cancer treatment and prevention strategies by studying how airway basal stem cells balance lung tissue repair and maintenance  
  • Use stem cell-derived 3D lung organoid 3D tissue grown from stem cells to replicate aspects of the structure and function of an organ. By modeling how multiple types of cells interact in biologically-relevant structures, these models help researchers understand how human organs develop, age and respond to disease in more detail than 2D cultures. organoid 3D tissue grown from stem cells to replicate aspects of the structure and function of an organ. By modeling how multiple types of cells interact in biologically-relevant structures, these models help researchers understand how human organs develop, age and respond to disease in more detail than 2D cultures. models to study complex lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and identify new therapies 
  • Investigate how high blood sugar levels in diabetic pregnancy cause congenital heart disease and develop targeted treatments to help mothers with diabetes deliver healthy babies
  • Examine how tobacco smoke and other environmental exposures A wide range of external and internal factors that impact human health. External exposures include chemical pollutants, radiation, diet and social interactions. Internal exposures involve stress, metabolism and the microbiome. Researchers study the exposome, which encompasses all exposures throughout life, to understand disease risk. environmental exposures A wide range of external and internal factors that impact human health. External exposures include chemical pollutants, radiation, diet and social interactions. Internal exposures involve stress, metabolism and the microbiome. Researchers study the exposome, which encompasses all exposures throughout life, to understand disease risk. injure airway stem cells, which can lead to lung cancer, breathing problems or increased severity of infections like COVID-19
Healthy airways (left) show well-defined layers of ciliated cells (green) and basal stem cells (red). In airways affected by cystic fibrosis (right), the layers are disrupted, and scientists identified a transitioning cell type that combines properties of both stem cells and ciliated cells (red and green in the same cell).

Cataloging airway cell types in cystic fibrosis

Center researchers develop a first-of-its-kind molecular catalog of cells in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, illustrating how the disease changes the cellular makeup of the airways. 

Electron microscopy images showing a healthy scar containing collagen type 5 with scar fibers smoothly arranged in parallel (left) and unhealthy scar containing no collagen type 5 with a disorganized architecture with disarray of scar fibers (right).

Why some hearts scar more than others

UCLA scientists identify a protein that plays a critical role in regulating the amount of scar tissue in the heart, explaining why some people suffer more extensive scarring than others after a heart attack. 

Microscopic images of a normal heart valve in a mouse, left, and a heart valve grown in a lab with heart-derived macrophages blocked, right. Without those macrophages, the valves are thick and deformed.

A key player in heart valve formation

Center researchers identify the origin of an immune cell that is essential to the formation of healthy heart valves, paving the way for treatments for heart valve disorders caused by congenital defects, aging or disease.

Human heart cells grown from stem cells show less robust muscle fibers (green) in high glucose conditions (left) compared to reduced glucose conditions (right).

How diabetes in pregnancy affects baby’s heart

UCLA scientists find that high glucose levels prevent heart cells from maturing normally, explaining why babies born to women with diabetes are more likely to develop congenital heart disease.

3-D bioengineered lung-like tissue (left) resembles adult human lung (right).

Growing mini 3-D lung-in-a-dish

Our researchers create stem cell-derived 3D lung organoids that can be used to study and identify treatments for complex diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Immunofluorescent staining demonstrating fibroblasts expressing the Channelrhodopsin protein in heart scar tissue. The ChR2-expressing fibroblast (green) is in close proximity to cardiomyocytes (red) within scar.

The origins of heart arrhythmias

Center researchers find that fibroblasts that reside in scar tissue of an injured heart play a direct role in life-threatening arrhythmias.

Meet the Researchers

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