Project description
Autologous replacement heart valve to last a lifetime
In the western world, 1 in 8 adults develops a heart valve problem during their lifetime, while 400 000 people are born with valve defects each year. Current replacement heart valves of animal and human donor origin carry a high risk of tissue rejection, degradation and calcification, leading to new surgeries. The paediatric patients have to endure 4-5 surgeries between 0-18 years of age as a result of body outgrowth of the replacement valves. The EU-funded GrownValve project is developing innovative heart valve technology as the autologous valve from the patient’s tissue, using imaging analysis and 3D printing. GrownValve aims to create lifelong valves to eliminate additional surgery and tissue rejection.
Objective
Each year 400,000 people are born with heart valve defects worldwide. Moreover, in the western world, 1 in 8 healthy adults will develop a heart valve problem during their lifetime. Current artificial heart valves made from animal or human donor tissue carry a high risk of tissue rejection, degradation and calcification that limit their lifespan to about 10 years, forcing patients to undergo risky cardiac re-surgery. For children, no dedicated valve product exists, thus, paediatric patients can endure 4-5 surgeries between 0-18 years of age as their bodies outgrow each replacement heart valve.
At GrOwnValve we have developed a paradigm shift in heart valve technology: the first autologous valve, grown from the patient’s own tissue, crafted using medical imaging and a 3D printing technique. Our valve lasts a lifetime, eliminating tissue rejection and surgical risks associated with repeated surgery (bleeding, infection and death).
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
10435 Berlin
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.