International audienceIn this paper we apply specific data assimilation methods in order to estimate regional contractility parameters in a biomechanical heart model, using as measurements real Cine MR images obtained in an animal experiment. We assess the effectiveness of this estimation based on independent knowledge of the controlled infarcted condition, and on late enhancement images. Moreover, we show that the estimated contractility values can improve the model behavior in itself, and that they can serve as an indicator of the local heart function, namely, to assist medical diagnosis for the post-infarct detection of hypokinetic or akinetic regions in the myocardial tissu