The heart cannot heal itself very well, being one of the least regenerative organs in the body. However, Dr. Charles Murry, professor of Pathology, Bioengineering and Cardiology, is working on new ways to repair heart damage. A recent segment on ABC 30 in Fresno, CA highlights the work being done in the Murry lab, including a “band-aid”-like patch for the surface of the heart constructed of beating human heart muscle grown from stem cells. The heart patch is currently being studied in animals, where it prevented cardiac failure in monkeys; Dr. Murry hopes to replicate these findings in humans.
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