Living Heart Valve Bioreactor

Project members

• Alison Laett-Babcock 
• Taishan Beaulieu
• Joanne Latella 
• Dante Conciatori 
• Julien Lavallee
• Tashii White
• Tadeus Talmaci

About the project

Current heart valve replacements come in two primary forms: mechanical or bioprosthetic. Each type has its own set of limitations, but their shared drawback lies in their inability to facilitate cell growth and repair. This is especially impactful for pediatric patients, as their hearts continue to grow after implantation of the replacement valve, necessitating multiple surgeries throughout childhood to replace the heart valve with a larger one. Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) represent a cutting-edge solution currently under research and development. Constructed from a patient's own cells, TEHVs have the unique capability of supporting cell growth and repair. This breakthrough is particularly significant for pediatric patients with valvular heart disease, as it means they may only need to undergo a single surgery, rather than facing multiple procedures as their hearts develop. At present, our team is focusing on the development of an affordable pulsatile flow bioreactor which mimics the fluid flow in the human heart. This critical piece of equipment will enable SainteJustine researchers to grow and test TEHVs under physiologically accurate flow conditions, advancing the progress towards effective tissue-engineered heart valves.