• This European research led by Clínica Universidad de Navarra seeks to recover the functionality of an infarcted heart by combining bioengineering and cardiac stem cells.
  • “Campus Vivo” is the name of the national exhibition on university research of which BRAVƎ is a part.

Pamplona, July 16, 2020. BRAVƎ is a European cardiac regeneration project led by Clínica Universidad de Navarra (Spain) that combines cell therapy with the latest advances in bioengineering. The objective of this project is to design a biological device capable of recovering the functionality of the heart of people with coronary heart disease. The explanation of the processes to develop this therapeutic device is part of the exhibition “Campus Vivo. Investigar en la Universidad” that the Spanish National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT) exhibits in La Coruña.

“Campus vivo” is an initiative of Crue Spanish Universities, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and MUNCYT. This initiative aims to convey to society the importance of the research carried out at the Spanish universities. It covers all areas of knowledge with the intent to contribute to territorial and social development and improve the quality of life of citizens.

Research: essential for the cure of diseases

According to the latest data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute, referring to a period before the pandemic, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in Spain. Among the types of cardiovascular disease, the most common is coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease. This condition involves blockage of the arteries of the heart, preventing sufficient blood and oxygen flow. The BRAVE project aims to respond to this pathology with the design of a personalized biological device for ventricular assistance (VAD) generated with cardiac stem cells, computational biomechanics and 3D bioprinting.

The section “Scientific and Technological Advances” achieved by universities presents this research under the title Advanced Additive Manufacturing and Stem Cells to Generate Therapeutic Heart Tissues. Thus, you can learn about the technological processes involved in the development of the therapeutic device, called BioVAD, and appreciate a fake replica of a human heart achieved with 3D printing. “Participating in this exhibition is an opportunity to publicize where advanced research in cardiac bioengineering is heading. Also, it contributes to show how research and technological innovation brings us closer to providing answers to current medical needs, “says Manuel Mazo, researcher in the Regenerative Medicine group at Cima (Clinica’s biomedical research centre) and in the Cell Therapy unit at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra.

The other seven projects selected to participate in this third edition of “Campus Vivo” are ‘Origins in the Granada Highlands’ (University of Granada), ‘Body and mind: size also matters’ (University of Burgos), ‘Applied Geometry’ (University of Coruña), ‘Decode’ (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), ‘Gender, Health & Aging’ (University of Murcia), ‘Physiology applied to estuaries’ (University of Cádiz) and ‘Microscopic magnets that can save our lives’ (University of the Basque Country). The exhibition will be open until the end of the year.

 

Caption: MUNCYT.