Overview
USC Stem Cell scientists are developing new regenerative treatments for the millions of patients with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Each year in the U.S. alone, approximately 700,000 people die of heart disease—the cause of one in five deaths.
Projects
- Chuck Murry’s lab is using stem cells to regenerate the heart muscle damaged by heart attacks. The approach will enter clinical trials within the next few years.
- Megan McCain’s lab is using tissue engineering to fabricate functional tissue and other platforms to study heart disease.
- Ching-Ling (Ellen) Lien’s lab is using zebrafish to improve our understanding of congenital heart defects.