ELR-SCAR Project
A novel biomaterial to improve heart attack recovery.
The Project
The myocardial infarction (MI)—commonly called “heart attack” —is a dangerous consequence of ischemic heart disease (IHD), a group of conditions caused by the insufficient blood flow to the heart. IHD is one the leading causes of death worldwide, causing around 9 million deaths each year. In Europe alone, it affects over 26 million people with an estimated to cost the EU economy of €59 billion a year.
Following a heart attack, millions of heart cells die, causing the heart tissue to stiffen and impairing its ability to contract properly. This can cause life-long damage to the heart muscle and its function, which places people at higher risk of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure and ultimately, sudden cardiac arrest.
After a heart attack, the heart has little capacity to regenerate on its own and the current medical interventions carry significant limitations in treatment efficacy and patient safety. As a result, there is a medical need for new treatments after a MI that can prevent scar tissue formation in patients and reduce their risk of heart failure and other complications in the future.
The ELR-SCAR project is developing the first cardiac intervention to prevent cardiac remodelling (changes in the structure and function of the heart) and scar tissue formation following a heart attack. The project aims to get this technology ready for a first-in-human validation study in the next four years (2027).
Partners
EU Countries
Years
(2023-2027)
