Descripción del proyecto
Modelos cardíacos tridimensionales para el tratamiento de enfermedades cardiovasculares
Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) son una de las principales causas de muerte y se prevé que su prevalencia aumente hasta convertirse en una epidemia. El desarrollo de nuevos tratamientos requiere modelos precisos. El proyecto HEART2BEAT, financiado con fondos europeos, tiene por objeto crear modelos avanzados de corazón humano. Estos modelos reproducirán las ECV mediante el uso de microgeles que encapsulan células madre pluripotentes humanas, lo que da lugar a la formación de organoides cardíacos humanos pluricelulares, autoorganizados y en tres dimensiones (3D) que imitan fielmente la estructura del corazón. El equipo del proyecto empleará tecnología punta para producir tejidos cardíacos en 3D que, a continuación, se pueden analizar en una plataforma microfluídica. En último término, en HEART2BEAT se pretende crear un corazón humano en miniatura capaz de bombear fluidos. Esta innovación facilitará la evaluación de los resultados clínicos tanto en la salud como en la enfermedad.
Objetivo
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the cause of the highest mortality and morbidity rates worldwide and are expected to increase in coming years, leading to epidemic proportions. Traditional experimental in vitro and animal models are not predictive enough, which hampers the emergence of novel therapies for treatment of CVD. Consequently, there is an urgent need to establish realistic human models that lead to a better understanding of CVD, providing the opportunity to identify and validate druggable targets. In Heart2Beat I will develop innovative human heart models for mimicking cardiovascular disease. I will use an innovative in-air microfluidic platform for ultra-high throughput encapsulating of human pluripotent stem cells in microgels to generate self-organised multicellular 3D human cardiac organoids that replicate the architectural design of the human heart. Furthermore, I will integrate and develop innovative technologies from the fields of human stem cell biology and engineering to create 3D (micro)-engineered heart tissues, coupled to a versatile and automated microfluidic platform, enabling assessment of multifunctional analysis (e.g. contraction, relaxation, metabolism, morphology). Finally, I will build a functional human mini-heart with the capacity to pump fluid, the main function of the human heart and then assess clinically relevant readouts in healthy and diseased conditions. These first-of-its kind advanced 3D human cardiac models and platforms are complementary to each other and form a highly innovative and comprehensive pipeline for modelling human CVD, enabling (ultra)high throughput screening and in-depth multifunctional pre-clinical analysis of healthy and diseased heart tissues. Successful implementation of Heart2Beat will provide insight into mechanisms of disease and will initiate a paradigm shift for personalised medicine and drug discovery, leading to tailor-made therapy for patients suffering from CVD.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discovery
- humanitiesartsarchitectural design
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespersonalized medicine
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
7522 NB Enschede
Países Bajos