Cryopreservation of Human 3D-engineered Heart Tissue (3D-EHT) for Myocardial Regenerative Therapy

3D-engineered heart tissue (3D-EHT) has emerged as a promising strategy for repairing the heart after a heart attack. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that transplanting human induced pluripotent (adult) stem cell–derived cardiac tissue can improve cardiac function. However, the absence of an effective cryopreservation protocol remains a major obstacle to developing off-the-shelf, ready-to-use cardiac grafts. In this project, the team aims to establish the first robust and scalable cryopreservation method for 3D-EHTs and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of rewarmed tissue in a rodent model of cardiac injury.