Objective
Cardiac safety testing still relies on animal models or oversimplified in vitro assays that often fail to predict human outcomes, increasing the risk of drug-induced arrhythmias and delaying drug development. HEARTCORE will integrate physiologically relevant, human heart-forming organoids (HFOs) with a multilayer 3D mesh microelectrode array (mesh MEA) and laser-based optoporation, creating a groundbreaking new platform for cardiotoxicity testing and predicting drug responses in the short and long term.
A hiPSC-derived advanced HFO model will include a proper cardiac structure of endocardial, myocardial, and epicardial compartments, including sinoatrial node–like cells for replicating 3D electrophysiological properties of the heart. These organoids will be grown into a biocompatible double-layer mesh MEA to enable non-invasive, high-resolution field-potential recordings, spatial repolarization mapping, and 3D signal propagation analysis over time. Optoporation will provide intracellular-like action potentials, while simultaneous calcium imaging and contraction monitoring will yield multiparametric datasets. To translate the data into actionable insights, we will develop a multi-scale in silico model, merging 3D spatial and temporal electrophysiological signatures with drug-specific effects to simulate proarrhythmic risk and deliver mechanistic predictions beyond current methods.
For elevated throughput screening, HEARTCORE will feature an optoporation-compatible high-electrode count MEA system with >1,000 channels in multiwell plates for 3D data acquisition and visualisation across the two mesh layers. Advanced software will create authentic 3D electrophysiological maps, overcoming the limitations of current 2D views.
HEARTCORE aims to transform cardiac safety testing—improving risk detection, advancing patient-specific disease modeling, cutting drug development costs, and promoting human-relevant, animal-free in vitro models emulating native-like responses.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases cardiac arrhythmia
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
30625 Hannover
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.