Engineered multi-well platforms integrating biochemical and biophysical cues for the functional maturation and electrophysiological monitoring of cardiac tissue models.

Project Information

EMPATIC

Grant agreement ID: 101158332

DOI

10.3030/101158332

Project closed

EC signature date 30 April 2024

Start date 1 July 2024

End date 31 December 2025

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EMPATIC (Engineered multi-well platforms integrating biochemical and biophysical cues for the functional maturation and electrophysiological monitoring of cardiac tissue models.)

Reporting period: 2024-07-01 to 2025-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Cardiovascular diseases continue to represent a major global health burden, highlighting the urgent need for more effective and safer therapeutic strategies. A critical limitation in current biomedical research lies in the insufficient predictive power of traditional preclinical models, which often fail to replicate the structural, mechanical, and functional complexity of human cardiac tissue. Advances in bioengineering have demonstrated the potential of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cardiac models to better reproduce key aspects of human heart physiology, offering new opportunities for more reliable translational research.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Building on recent progress in cardiac tissue engineering, EMPATIC project developed an innovative platform designed to support the generation of physiologically relevant human cardiac tissue in vitro. The system combines advanced culture environment with integrated functional monitoring capabilities. This approach enables controlled cellular organization and functional assessment in a scalable and user-friendly configuration, facilitating broader adoption in research and preclinical settings.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

By contributing to the development of more human-relevant in vitro cardiac models, EMPATIC supports the advancement of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and promotes a transition toward more predictive, ethical, and sustainable biomedical research practices. In the long term, the platform has the potential to enhance drug development efficiency, improve safety evaluation, and reduce reliance on animal experimentation, ultimately accelerating innovation in cardiovascular and regenerative medicine.

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