In vitro and in vivo preclinical testing of pericyte-engineered grafts for correction of congenital heart defects

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Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect, with a reported prevalence ranging from 6 to 13 per 1,000 live births. In UK alone, 4,600 babies are diagnosed with a cardiac defect each year. Despite considerable progresses in surgical techniques and medical treatments, CHD remains the first cause of mortality associated with a congenital defect. In addition, the material used by cardiac surgeons to correct cardiac defects has limited durability. Hence, patients are grown through repeated risky operations. We propose a definitive solution which is based on the incorporation of patient's own stem cells in grafts currently used to correct cardiac defects. Stem cells shall confer the graft with capability to grow and adapt to the need of the young heart. We will initially work to set up the protocol for optimal incorporation of cells in the graft and then test the therapeutic activity of the new grafts in animal models, in view of a therapeutic application in CHD patients.