25 Sep Scientists in Madison studying synthetic materials with applications in stem cell research
Danielle Desa, Morgridge Institute
Scientists with the Morgridge Institute for Research in Madison have been testing new synthetic materials used for turning stem cells into heart muscle cells, with applications in bio-manufacturing.
Danielle Desa is a post-doctoral fellow with the research institute, which has deep ties to UW-Madison. She spoke yesterday during a Wisconsin Technology Council luncheon in Madison, putting a spotlight on imaging techniques used to assess these synthetic materials.
The materials — used as a scaffold for growing stem cells as they differentiate — could play a key role in efforts to treat damage to heart muscle cells resulting from cardiovascular disease, Desa explained. While humans can’t regrow these heart cells, called cardiomyocytes, on their own, stem cells can be “very efficiently” transformed into the desired cardiac cells.
“Having these cell batches available for us to do research with opens up lots of avenues for regenerative medicine, disease modeling and cardiotoxic drug screening,” Desa said.