On Apr. 22, 2020, UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists announced they had discovered a protein that works with others during development to put the brakes on cell division in the heart. The study was published in Nature.

The findings could eventually be used to reverse this developmental block and help heart cells regenerate, offering a whole new way to treat a variety of conditions in which heart muscle becomes damaged, including heart failure caused by viruses, toxins, high blood pressure, or heart attacks.