NHCS & Novoheart Collaborate to Develop World's First Asian Patient-Specific Miniature Human Heart Model

The NHCS and Novoheart collaboration aims to advance care for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The bioengineering of the Asian patient-specific HFpEF mini-heart model, known as the "Human Heart-in-a-Jar," represents a pioneering initiative in Asia.

National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) has joined forces with US-based Medera's Novoheart to pioneer the creation of the world's first Asian patient-specific miniature human heart model with heart failure, aptly named the "Human Heart-in-a-Jar."

This recent venture relies on Asian patients' cell samples sourced from NHCS Biobank, a repository of anonymised biospecimens and clinical data from cardiovascular disease patients.

Leveraging Novoheart's proprietary bioengineering technologies, the collaboration aims to craft the inaugural Asian patient-specific mini-heart models capable of replicating key features observed in individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

The strategic partnership between NHCS and Novoheart holds the promise of advancing care for HFpEF patients. The bioengineering of the Asian patient-specific HFpEF mini-heart model, the "Human Heart-in-a-Jar," is a pioneering initiative in Asia.

Once successfully developed, this model can faithfully reproduce critical features seen in Asian HFpEF patients, such as relaxation defects, fibrosis, and hypertrophy, ushering in a new era of precision medicine for heart failure.

Novoheart, known for its world-first mini-Heart technology platform, has previously collaborated with AstraZeneca to construct the initial HFpEF mini-Heart through molecular induction. These efforts have translated into an ongoing FDA-approved First-In-Human Gene Therapy clinical trial in the United States.

To expedite progress, Novoheart will contribute proprietary commercial-grade hardware and software for automation, enhancing the throughput, accuracy, and sensitivity of phenotypic and drug screening experiments utilising the engineered human heart-in-a-jar assays.

In support of NHCS's endeavours, a $5 million Industry Alignment Fund – Industry Collaboration Project (IAF-ICP) award has been granted by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR).

This funding aims to catalyse and expedite drug discovery initiatives focused on heart failure in Asian patients. The collaboration's innovative approach holds immense potential for advancing cardiac research and developing tailored treatments for heart failure within the Asian population.

In another recent development in cardiac care, US-based Biotricity Inc, a Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) company specialising in remote cardiac monitoring within consumer healthcare, filed a patent application for its Biotres device.

The three-channel connected cardiac monitor addresses a crucial market gap with its compact patch form factor, providing multiple ECG channels, diverse sensors, rechargeability, and connectivity. Capable of up to 30 days of recording, it offers wireless connectivity for automated data offloading and remote ECG views, effectively minimising results wait time.