Collaborators Seek to Develop Biologic Pacemaker

A major designer and developer of cardiovascular medical products is collaborating with two universities in a research project designed to advance treatment of heart disease by implanting genetically engineered cells that mimic the heart's natural pacemaker.

Participating laboratories at Columbia University (New York, NY, USA) and Stony Brook University (NY, USA) will conduct the basic research, designed to allow Guidant Corporation (Indianapolis, IN, USA) to formulate a new generation of therapeutic cardiac products.

The research effort, which is scheduled to last five years, will utilize advanced techniques in gene therapy for the development of a cell-based biologic pacemaker. Adult stem cells that have been genetically engineered to express genes for the normal pacemaker function of heart cells will be implanted into specific areas of the heart muscle. Preclinical studies have shown that such engineered cells can communicate directly with heart muscle cells. The engineered cells provide an ionic current that stimulates the heart to generate a heartbeat identical to that caused by the heart's natural pacemaker.

"We are very excited about the scientific possibilities that gene therapy may provide and welcome this association with Columbia and Stony Brook universities,” said Dr. Beverly Lorell, chief medical and technology officer, Guidant Corporation. "Guidant has a history of supporting innovative research that brings new therapy options to physicians and their patients. We look forward to deliberately moving the idea of a biological pacemaker from proof-of-concept to first human application.”



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Stony Brook University
Guidant Corporation