An interdisciplinary team from the University Medical Centre Göttingen (UMG) and the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein on the Lübeck campus (UKSH) has been working on the production of artificial heart tissue for 30 years. The scientists use artificial heart tissue to rebuild destroyed heart muscle tissue in patients with Heart failure.
The approach is unique in the world. The ‘heart patch’ made from heart muscle cells is applied directly to the heart in a gentle and minimally invasive way. The researchers use the so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to develop functional heart muscle and connective tissue cells. The world's first transfer of an iPSC-based heart repair approach via rhesus monkeys to humans is a special team effort by basic scientists, translational researchers and clinicians from the UMG and the UKSH.
In a unique approach, the researchers were able to show that a heart which has undergone damage due to a heart attack, can be repaired by implanting a heart patch. In addition, an improvement in heart function can be achieved in this way, and there are no adverse side effects. The world's first clinical trial of permanent heart muscle reconstruction using human stem cells was approved by the Paul Ehrlich Institute in December 2020. Since March 2021, patients have been treated as part of the BioVAT-HF-DZHK20 (Biological Ventricular Assist Tissue in Terminal Heart Failure) clinical trial.
The jury recognised the interdisciplinary teamwork and innovative strength of the project. The German University Medicine Prize is awarded annually by the Medical Faculty Association (MFT) and the Association of University Hospitals in Germany (VUD). In addition to team performance in university medicine, it recognises in particular the innovation and translation of research projects for patient care as well as the social impact of medical achievements.
The award ceremony will take place during the Day of University Medicine on 28 November 2024 in Berlin. The prize is endowed with 25,000 euros.
