Heart disease

Heart Disease

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Canada, affecting more than 3.5 million Canadians and costing the health system an estimated $9 billion annually. It can arise from genetic factors, congenital conditions, or acquired damage to heart tissue—causing heart failure, arrhythmias, and other serious complications.

Regenerative medicine is reshaping what’s possible for patients. Canadian researchers are developing innovative therapies that aim not just to manage symptoms, but to repair and regenerate the heart itself. From creating stem cell-derived heart cells that safely integrate into damaged tissue, to engineering living heart valves that grow with children, and developing biological pacemakers that replace electronic devices, these advances are redefining the future of cardiac care.

SCN-supported teams are also uncovering the genetic roots of inherited heart disease and pioneering RNA-based strategies to help transplanted cells survive and heal damaged tissue more effectively. Together, their discoveries could dramatically improve outcomes for people living with heart failure and congenital or rhythm-related heart conditions.

Through an investment of over $9.7 million from 2016–2028, the Stem Cell Network is driving forward the science that will one day make heart repair—and even regeneration—a reality for patients in Canada and around the world.

Cycle 5, Round 1: Fueling Biotechnology Partnership Awardee Nourishing Stem Cells for Better Heart Repair

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Canada, and repairing damaged heart muscle with human stem cell-derived heart cells (hPSC-CMs) offers promising potential. But challenges remain: these cells often integrate poorly and can cause irregular heart rhythms after transplantation.

Dr. Craig Simmons and his team are addressing this by developing a specialized “nutrient solution” that helps human stem cell-derived heart cells mature in the lab. More mature cells are better suited for repairing the heart safely and effectively. The team has already created a novel cell culture medium using computational tools—and it’s outperforming existing options for research use.

Now, working with Toronto-based company BoutIQ Solutions, the team is building an even more advanced formula tailored for clinical therapies. Using machine learning, they’ll optimize the cell-growing ingredients and test the results in animal heart models to identify the best-performing formulations for therapy.

This work could lead to safer, more effective regenerative heart treatments and help speed up discoveries in stem cell science through smarter, data-driven tools.

“Our team is focused on constructing better ‘building blocks’ for heart repair—nourishing stem cells so they can function more like real heart cells and do the job they’re meant to do. Our work could bring new hope to patients with heart disease.”

Cycle 5, Round 1: Early Career Researcher Jump Start Awardee Unlocking the Genetic Puzzle of Inherited Heart Disease

Cardiomyopathies are inherited heart diseases that affect both how the heart pumps and how it maintains its rhythm—often leading to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. For many of the 750,000 Canadians living with heart failure, a heart transplant is the only option, but donor organs are scarce.

Dr. Jessica Esseltine’s research focuses on a remarkable discovery from families in Newfoundland and Labrador, where two different mutations—each of which causes severe heart disease when inherited alone—appear to cancel each other out when inherited together, preventing disease entirely.

This project will explore how these individual mutations impair heart cell function, and why their combination seems to restore it. By uncovering the biological mechanisms behind this unexpected finding, Dr. Esseltine’s team hopes to identify new strategies for preventing or treating inherited heart disease.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique population genetics and the generosity of participating families make it a powerful hub for this kind of research, with the potential to change how we understand and treat genetic heart conditions.

“This research started with a surprising question—how can two harmful mutations combine to prevent disease? By exploring that mystery, we hope to uncover entirely new ways to protect heart health for patients across Canada and around the world.”

Cycle 5, Round 1: Early Career Researcher Jump Start Awardee Living Heart Valves That Grow With Children

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are among the most common and serious health conditions in children. Many young patients require pulmonary valve replacements—but current artificial valves don’t grow with the child, leading to repeated, high-risk surgeries as they age.

Dr. Houman Savoji is tackling this problem by developing living, patient-specific heart valves that can grow and adapt over time. Using stem cells and 3D bioprinting, his team is creating next-generation valves made from living tissues, tailored to each child’s body and designed to integrate and evolve as they grow.

This groundbreaking approach combines developmental biology, bioprinting, imaging, and cell science to engineer valves that could eliminate the need for multiple surgeries—improving quality of life and reducing long-term health costs.

If successful, this research could redefine pediatric heart care in Canada and beyond, offering a personalized, regenerative solution to a devastating childhood condition.

“Our goal is to create living heart valves that grow with the child—reducing surgeries, risks, and suffering. It’s about bringing hope and healing through innovation, and transforming how we treat congenital heart disease.”

Cycle 5, Round 1: Early Career Researcher Jump Start Award Developing a Natural Alternative to Electronic Pacemakers

Every heartbeat depends on a small cluster of specialized cells called atrioventricular node (AVN) pacemaker cells. When these cells are damaged, the heart can beat dangerously slowly—a condition known as heart-block. The standard treatment is the implantation of an electronic pacemaker (EPM), a device that helps regulate the heartbeat. In Canada alone, around 15,000 people receive an EPM for heart-block each year.

But EPMs come with limitations, including surgical risks, recurrent surgical battery replacements, and long-term complications such as heart failure—especially in young patients.

Dr. Stephanie Protze is leading a pioneering effort to create a biological conduction bridge—a living alternative to electronic devices. Her team is generating AVN-like pacemaker cells from stem cells and testing whether they can take over the job of damaged AVN cells in animal models. If successful, this would be the first-ever biological therapy for heart-block and could revolutionize care for thousands of patients in Canada and beyond—offering not just a treatment, but a cure.

“We aim to repair hearts that beat too slow with stem cell-derived pacemaker cells —offering a lasting, natural alternative to electronic pacemakers for people with heart-block.”

Cycle 5, Round 1: Impact Award Supercharging Stem Cells to Repair Damaged Hearts

Heart failure is one of Canada’s leading causes of death, and current treatments can only slow its progression—not repair the damage. While stem cell therapy has shown potential to regenerate heart tissue, a major roadblock remains: most transplanted cells die shortly after being delivered, limiting their benefit.

Dr. Michael Laflamme and a team of Canadian researchers are tackling this challenge using an innovative approach rooted in RNA science. RNA is a molecule that carries instructions to help cells make proteins. The team is using a special form called circular RNA (circRNA), which is more stable and allows cells to produce protective proteins for longer. By pre-treating regenerative heart cells with circRNA, they aim to help these cells survive longer, integrate better, and repair more heart tissue.

This bold project brings together regenerative medicine and RNA technology to create a next-generation cell therapy for heart failure—one that could transform patient outcomes and strengthen Canada’s position as a leader in biomedical innovation.

“By helping transplanted heart cells survive and thrive, we aim to unlock the full potential of stem cell therapy—offering new hope for the millions affected by heart failure.”