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Cardiovascular
Over 1 million people suffer acute myocardial infarction each year in the United States and the prevalence of congestive heart failure is over 5 million patients. Additionally, congenital heart malformations are the most common human birth defects. Cardiac conduction abnormalities are also a major cause of morbidity and mortality yearly. Unfortunately, the heart has very little regenerative capacity after injury. New findings in the last five years have revealed that the heart may harbor stem or progenitor cells. In addition, stem cells derived from different sources (e.g.embryonic stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, native cardiac progenitor cells or others) might provide novel methods of treating injured or congenitally abnormal heart tissue, abnormal cardiac conduction or valvular diseases.
The program in cardiovascular biology is pursuing several overall research
goals:
- To rigorously interrogate the fundamental biology of cardiomyocyte,
vascular endothelial, valvular and cardiac conduction cell properties
using progenitor cells derived from embryonic and/or adult stem
cells,
- To translate basic science discoveries regarding stem and progenitor
cells to measurable therapeutic outcomes in animal models of human heart
disease and
- To organize clinical trials for patients with heart disease when the
rationale is appropriately supported by rigorous science and strong
pre-clinical and safety data in animal models.
The Cardiovascular pipeline is directed by Drs. Deepak Srivastava and Yerem Yeghiazarians.
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