The research unit Translational Cardiothoracic surgery is part of the department of Cardiothoracic surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. Our vision is to improve and modulate cardiac function based on patient-tailored approaches of precision medicine. Within this lab, a unique biomimetic framework has been developed that allows to investigate and modulate cardiac function from cell to whole organ with a direct link to clinical practice. This custom-made high-end technological setup using living myocardial slices and ex-situ heart perfusion provides almost instantaneous biofeedback on cardiac performances such as contractile function, calcium and oxygen handling, and mitochondrial function. This allows to investigate real-time patient-specific cardiac function and adaptation within the so-called excitation-contraction coupling
Contact Person
Dr. Yannick Taverne
y.j.h.j.taverne@erasmusmc.nl
Approach
To achieve this, three major translational research lines exist using the described platform.
- Cardiac contractile properties are examined within different diseases (both pediatric and adult diseases), excitation patterns, and metabolic states. In such, distinct contractile patterns are generated and used for future diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
- Improved real-time assessment possibilities of cardiac contraction are investigated and further developed for the biomimetic systems. In such, novel (pharmaco)therapeutics can be tested thereby shortening preclinical testing phases.
- Novel methods are investigated to improve graft (contractile) performance by optimizing metabolism and energetics (e.g., hibernation, mitochondrial improvement, etc.) and form the basis for future cardiac (genetic) therapy to restore functionality
Innovative scientific contributions
- implementation of an improved ex-situ heart preservation method
- creation of a new research field for congenital heart disease
- unraveling the mode-of-action of novel pharmacotherapeutics
- creation of a novel real-time biofeedback system using optical mapping
