Project R-12566

Combining cardiac progenitor therapy and tissue engineering for the treatment of heart failure (Research)

Heart failure is the number one cause of death worldwide and, despite therapeutic advances, remains without a curative therapy. This chronic progressive condition is most often caused by myocardial infarction, which leads to impaired cardiac function and ultimately heart failure. A newly discovered, highly cardiomyogenic stem cell population, the cardiac atrial appendage stem cell (CASCs) population, has proven to be a unique candidate for myocardial regeneration. Although CASCs' cellular retention and integration in the host tissue is superior to other stem cell populations, reaching adequate engraftment rates remains challenging. In our study, we aim to combine CASCs with tissue engineering to optimize CASCs' engraftment rates and efficiently replace the myocardial scar with functional cardiomyocytes. To this end, a newly developed cell delivery system will be characterized and its biocompatibility with the CASCs will be determined

01 March 2022 - 28 February 2026