Bin Duan, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine was recently awarded an American Heart Association Scientist Development grant. The title is "Bio-inspired engineered pediatric valve regulates MSC differentiation and MSC-monocyte interaction."
Dr. Duan, in collaboration with The Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, proposed to work on the problem with tissue engineered heart valves that in previous work has not been able to reach longer-term performance. According to the proposal, previous results remain disappointingly inadequate mainly due to improper microenvironment target and innate immune response, which result in leaflet tissue contraction and calcification.
They will compare the biomechanical and biochemical features of heart valves in a juvenile animal model and an adult animal model. They plan to develop novel composite valve scaffolds that can be tuned mechanically and biologically to recapitulate pediatric valve features. They will utilize these constructs to encapsulate stem cells and to induce the stem cells differentiation towards pediatric valve cells under cyclic stretch and flow conditions.
They hope to find out whether the pediatric material environments and mechanical stimuli can work together to induce such differentiation. They also want to understand how stem cells within age specific constructs regulate monocyte recruitment under flow conditions.
"Congratulations, we are proud of your efforts and successes," Vincent Pompili, MD, professor and chief, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and physician executive director of Cardiovascular Services said.
"Great news! Congratulations to Dr. Duan and his team!" Debra Romberger, MD, chair, Department of Internal Medicine said.