RESEARCH TEAM

Chris Mc Gregor (PI) ‘

Director of Surgery at the Heart Hospital

Gaetano Burriesci (Co-Investigator)

Design and development of biological heart valves

Gerry Byrne (Co-Investigator) ‘

Development of genetically modified tissue

Ben Rahmani (Research Associate)

Design and assessment of heart valve implants

Elisa Chisari (Laboratory Technician) ‘

Design and assessment of heart valve implants

Martin Anyim (Project Manager)

Translational Research Project Manager

Rebecca Paulraj (Technology Transfer)

Responsible for the IPR strategy and negotiation with potential partners

‘ UCL Heart Hospital

SPONSORS

Degeneration of biological heart valves occurs rapidly in younger patients. As a consequence, this group of patients is often treated with mechanical heart valves which require lifetime anticoagulation. The group of Prof McGregor at the Heart Hospital, London, UK, have identified an antibody-mediated inflammatory process which promotes tissue calcification. Evidence indicates that this mechanism may significantly contribute to the age-dependent calcification of bioprostheses in young patients, who have higher affinity anti-Gal antibody and are strongly sensitized to Gal after biological valve implantation.

Prof McGregor’s group have developed genetically modified sources of material for biological valve manufacture, which do not make the Gal antigen (GTKO).

At the UCL Cardiovascular Engineering Laboratory, we are now collaborating with Prof McGregor and his group on the design, manufacturing and preclinical testing of fixed valves from GTKO sources. Such devices could advance the standard of care, as they are expected to be more durable and expand the advantaged of bioprosthetic valves to younger patients.

Genetically Modified Biological Heart Valves

advancing the standard of care

by engineering new biological materials