Endocardial sprouting and mechano-signalling in heart trabeculation

The overarching aim of this grant is to understand how the ventricles – the pumping chambers of the mammalian heart – form during embryonic life. Critical is the elaboration of trabeculae, myocardial projections that form a sponge-like layer on the inner surface of the chamber wall and which play vital roles in contraction, oxygen and nutrient exchange, conduction and septation. We have developed a new model of trabeculation that integrates cellular and molecular behaviours, and the dynamic flux of extracellular proteins. Our aims are to develop a deeper understanding of trabeculation using high resolution, single cell methodologies, and to investigate how biomechanical forces from contraction or blood flow influence chambers formation.