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This project aims to implement available valve substitutes by repopulating their core with progenitor cells that are isolated and expanded from the adventitia of human long saphenous veins under GMP-compliant procedures.
Our partners at the University of Bristol have already extensively studied this cell population, showing that their use in animal models of ischaemia is safe and capable of helping tissue healing.
We are now testing the ability of adventitial progenitor cells to resist to, and protect other vascular cells from osteogenic stimuli.
We expect to generate a novel bioengineered prosthetic valve able to withstand the impact of degenerative and calcifying stimuli.
The prosthetic material will be self-maintaining and could be prospectively implemented with endothelial cells to provide endothelial coverage or molecular modifications of saphenous vein adventitial progenitor cells.
We expect that soon we will be able to perform a preclinical study in a large animal model in view of a first-in-human study.
If successful, this project will open up new avenues for production of durable prosthetic valves with enormous medical and social benefits.
BHF Professor of Cardiac Surgery - Bristol Heart Institute and the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London
Lab Director
Professor of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine - University of Bristol, UK
Professor of Congenital Heart Surgery - University of Bristol, UK
