Can We Repair the Heart? Genes, Stem Cells and Biomaterials

A version of this video with audio description track is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI7jB-8zoRM Heart repair is moving beyond a single strategy. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., Ehtisham Mahmud, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Eric Adler, M.D., Karen Christman, Ph.D., and set designer Robert Brill discuss approaches to preventing and repairing heart damage. Mahmud describes a model linking cardiovascular care, training and clinical research. Adler explains how patient skin cells can be turned into beating heart cells to study genetic cardiomyopathies and develop targeted therapies. Christman discusses injectable extracellular matrix materials designed to reduce inflammation, limit scar formation and support repair after a heart attack. Brill connects the science to The Heart, a theatrical work shaped by medicine, organ donation and community. Together, the discussion shows how collaboration across medicine, bioengineering and the arts can expand approaches to heart disease and healing. [Show ID: 41544] Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming: https://www.uctv.tv/donate 0:00 How Can the Heart Be Repaired? 3:29 Building a Cardiovascular Research and Care Network 14:37 Using Stem Cells and Gene Therapy for Cardiomyopathy 30:12 Injectable Biomaterials After a Heart Attack 45:16 How The Heart Connects Medicine, Design and Organ Donation 57:49 Why Scientists and Artists Chose Their Fields 1:06:35 How Cardiovascular Research Gets Funded Please Note: Knowledge about health and medicine is constantly evolving. This information may become out of date. More videos from: Stem Cell Channel (https://www.uctv.tv/stem-cell) Explore More Health & Medicine on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/health) UCTV features the latest in health and medicine from University of California medical schools. Find the information you need on cancer, transplantation, obesity, disease and much more. Explore More Science & Technology on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/science) Science and technology continue to change our lives. University of California scientists are tackling the important questions like climate change, evolution, oceanography, neuroscience and the potential of stem cells. UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California -- teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world. (https://www.uctv.tv) FAQ Q: Can the human heart regenerate after it is damaged? A: The heart does not repair itself after major injury the way tissues such as skin or skeletal muscle can. Researchers are studying several approaches, including genetic therapies, stem cell technologies and biomaterials designed to support the heart’s own repair processes. Q: How can stem cells help researchers study genetic heart disease? A: Researchers can turn a patient’s skin cells into stem cells and then develop those cells into beating heart cells in the laboratory. Eric Adler, M.D., describes using these patient-specific heart cells to study genetic cardiomyopathy, screen possible treatments and help identify a gene therapy strategy. Q: How could an injectable biomaterial help after a heart attack? A: Karen Christman, Ph.D., describes an extracellular matrix material made from the structural components of tissue after its cells are removed. When delivered to damaged heart tissue, the material forms a scaffold that can recruit the body’s own cells, reduce inflammation and support repair. Early clinical and animal studies described in the program are being followed by additional research.