Year 4

The aims for this study are to 1) develop methods for generating highly efficient numbers of cardiovascular cells from stem cells, and then 2) develop methods for packaging the cells into tissue-like implantable materials for repair of dead tissue following a heart attack. The final aim 3) was to examine the repair/restorative ability of the developed product in a damaged animal heart.

This year (4th year of the grant) was very productive. We have highly efficient methods for generating both heart (70% purity) and blood vessel cells (90% purity) and have developed a sophisticated design for packaging these into heart tissue-like materials. The animal studies are underway and initial data is promising.