Nov 04, 2025: In what could be classified as a ground breaking discovery, Hina Chaudhry, MD at Mount Sinai has identified a specific human gene that can help the human heart repair itself from an attack or failure.

As per reports in The Telegraph and mentioned in the Mount Sinai newsroom, MD Hina Chaudhry, Director of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has published a study on November 3, 2025. As per this breakthrough study, a naturally occurring human gene, Cyclin A2 (CCNA2) can actually make new, functioning heart cells and lead the heart to repair itself from injury, viz. heart attack or heart failure. This gene, as per the study, turns of naturally after birth in humans. Once turned back on, the gene has the ability to repair a damaged heart.

This discovery by Hina and her team could trigger research into new techniques to repair damaged hearts. This can be an alternative to heart transplants and artifical implanted cardiac devices. This study was published in the Nature Portfolio Journals Regenerative Medicine.

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The new discovery by Hina and her team builds on a similar landmark study published in 2014, where this team became the pioneers in regenerating the heart of a large pig (mammal) by reactivating CCNA2 post a heart attack. The heart of pigs closely resemble that of humans and the technique demonstrated could heal clinically relevant hearts. The new study, providing a transitional bridge, proves that a human-compatible viral vector can adroitly and effectively trigger cell division in adult human heart cells.

The Researchers Explain

Dr. Hina, explaining the phenomenon, mentioned that though heart attacks are the leading cause of deaths around the world, the adult human heart muscle cells stop dividing after bitrh. She added that their approach was to establish proof that the heart could be reawakened to regenerative itself after and attack or arrest, by using its innate ability through the CCNA2. The team focussed on the CCNA2 that is a gene silenced after birth and turned it back on adults to see if this would grow new heart cells to help the heart heal. Once there is an attack the heart muscle is lost and cannot be replaced. This study focussed on self growth by trigerring the CCNA2 gene.

“This is the culmination of nearly two decades of work,” Dr. Chaudhry said. “We pioneered the concept that the heart could be regenerated by reawakening dormant cell division genes, and now we’ve brought that vision one step closer to patients. Our goal is to deliver a therapy that allows the heart to heal itself after a heart attack or in heart failure—reducing the need for transplants or mechanical devices.”  - Hina Chaudhry, MD, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai.

She added that their next step will be to seek FDA approval to begin clinical trials on heart patients using the CCNA2 therapy.

Who is Hina Chaudhry

Hina Chaudhry, MD, is the Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai. A decorated medical practitioner, Hina holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and Biology from MIT and MD with Honors from Harvard Medical School. She is an expert commentator with CNN and is the Principal Scientist for the New York State Stem Cell Board. She has been honored by many organizations for her work in cardiac regeneration.

Source: Press Release by Mount Sinai