Projects

Cardiac Valves

Acellular Allogeneic Cardiac Valves

Lead N8 Academic: Professor Eileen Ingham, Leeds

University of Leeds, NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue Services, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Tissue Regenix Ltd

The Problem:

5,000 patients per year in the UK receive cardiac valve replacements and 225,000 valve replacements are performed worldwide. However the currently used valve replacements last only 15 years and are subject to immunological responses resulting in re-operation. Cryopreserved human valve grafts are currently used but these fail to repopulate with cells

 

The Technology:

Researchers at Leeds University have developed a method for removing immunogenic cells from porcine cardiac valves which can be implanted into sheep. This approach removes the immunogenic cells whilst preserving the extracellular matrix and biomechanical properties of the native valve. The acellular valves can then be repopulated with the patients own cells so providing a life-long graft.

 

The Aims:

The team will apply the technology developed in porcine valves to human valves to create a source of human material for valve replacement. The biological and biomechanical properties of the decellularised grafts will be investigated. A regulatory compliant production system will also be developed to make the acellular grafts available to surgeons for clinical trials


The Team:

Prof Eileen Ingham, Professor of Medical Immunology at the University of Leeds, has over 25 years experience in translational research in the area of prosthetic devices, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering including orthopaedic and cardiovascular scaffolds.

Prof John Kearney of NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue Services has extensive experience in connective tissue biology and clinical tissue banking.

Mr Kevin Watterson, Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary, has extensive publications in the area of cardiac medical devices and will provide clinical input to this project

Tissue Regenix Ltd is developing products for the vascular and orthopaedic markets