Heart failure is a global public health issue with a largely equal distribution between men and women. For patients with end-stage heart failure limited treatment options are available. The Cardiovascular Moonshot of RegMed-XB (CMRM-XB) is a comprehensive program based on the concept of developing personalized cardiac regenerative therapies tailored to individual patients. The researchers aim to enhance the body's inherent regenerative capacity, such as improving contractility and perfusion of the heart muscle, repairing or replacing coronary arteries and heart valves. Importantly, researchers will gain insights into optimizing heart treatment and potentially preventing certain cardiovascular diseases in patients.
The Research
The research is focused on the creation of a(n) (additional) solution(s) for patients by regenerating the human heart inside (in-situ) or outside of the body (ex-situ). Repair of the heart in a cardiac perfusion bioreactor (ex-situ) offers unique opportunities, including the possibility to apply treatments without off-target effects to distant organs or wash-out of therapeutics. Initially, this could be an option to restore donor hearts for transplant recipients. After restoring the heart, it will be re-implanted. This strategy also facilitates exploration of gene therapy for hereditary diseases. Along this process, the researchers learn how to treat the heart better and eventually also aim to deduce how to treat the heart inside a patient.
The Cardiovascular Moonshot of RegMed XB is the most recent addition to the Moonshot initiatives. To date, it has completed a hypothermic pilot study that has enhanced researchers' expertise in perfusion models. Currently, this model is undergoing further refinement for optimal heart preservation. Additionally, ongoing histopathological analysis of heart valves aims to elucidate how these valves remodel in response to altered fluid dynamics within the ex vivo heart platform.
The cardiovascular Moonshot consists of a multidisciplinary team of transplant surgeons (Utrecht), cardiologists (Utrecht, Maastricht), engineers (Eindhoven) and biologists (Leiden) with the support and input of key stakeholders including patients and companies.
The origin
RegMed XB is a virtual institute that currently comprises Dutch and Belgian public (universities and governments) and private (health foundations and companies) partners that work together to develop regenerative medicine solutions. Regenerative medicine aims to restore degenerated, diseased, or damaged tissues and organs, thereby increasing vital functioning and reducing the cost of healthcare. RegMed XB collaborates on ambitious projects in the field of regenerative medicine. Initially, five health foundations have joined the TKI-program by Health~Holland to define the research objectives and co-govern the projects. Numerous companies have joined and the regional governments support both the research and its valorisation.
The cardiovascular Moonshot recently received follow-up funding from the Dutch Heart Foundation through the Open PSS program, which the Dutch Heart Foundation receives from Health~Holland. In addition, companies involved are also making a financial contribution; these are Coagulation Profile and Axion Biosystems.
