Project Goal

• To develop techniques to grow the first tissue-engineered heart valves for clinical use.

Overview

Tissue engineering is a relatively new discipline that applies engineering principles to the life sciences in an attempt to develop neo-tissue that can be used for reconstructive surgical applications.

Pediatric surgical researchers at the Yale Center for Children's Surgical Research are focusing on cardiovascular tissue engineering, specifically attempting to grow heart valves and blood vessels to be used to replace worn out or diseased structures. This is accomplished by taking a small biopsy of the necessary tissue and expanding its cells in culture. The cells are then seeded onto a biodegradable scaffold which is designed to help the cells organize and develop into tissue. This tissue is then used to make a new heart valve or blood vessel that can replace its diseased counterpart.

Funding

In process.

Timeline