News
September 2, 2008
$1.4 MILLION GRANT WILL SPEED TESTING OF NEW HEART DEVICE
Scientists at the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute and Louisville biosciences company SCR Inc. have received a $1.4 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to help fast track the development and commercialization of a new device for treating congestive heart failure.
The multidisciplinary team from the CII and UofL includes cardiothoractic surgical chief Mark Slaughter, cardiologist Sumanth Prabhu, bioengineer Guruprasad Giridharan and biomedical engineer Steven Koenig.
According to Slaughter and Prabhu, the team’s strategy is unique. Instead of focusing on long-term mechanical support for the failing heart, they are developing devices that provide the cardiac equivalent of physical therapy.
“The counterpulsation device (CPD) is one of the first devices specifically designed to help heal, recover, and rehabilitate the diseased heart without the need for long-term mechanical circulatory support or a heart transplant, and has the potential to fill a unique niche in the current treatment of patients with heart failure” said Prabhu.
“It is implanted like a pacemaker, without the need to surgically enter the chest,” said Slaughter.
“Patients can be treated without extensive surgery and post-operative recovery and should gain back their mobility quickly.”
Koenig notes that the device is unique in its simplicity. “It is an air-driven device that allows doctors to control the workload of the sick heart while it rests, and then gradually increase the workload as the heart strengthens and recovers. It can also be programmed to increase blood flow to the heart, which increases oxygen supply and nutrients, speeding recovery.”
SBIR is a highly competitive federal grant program that encourages small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides incentive to profit from the commercialization of inventions.
“This partnership has benefited from two phase one SBIR grants ($440,000) and three matching grants ($700,000) from the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). It is a great example of how these grant programs can help move an idea from the mind to the marketplace as quickly as possible,” said Paul Spence, MD, founder of SCR Inc.
The CII researchers and SCR development team expect to initiate clinical trials in spring 2009.
The CII’s state-of-the-art facility, opened in January 2007, includes expanded research facilities plus training and administrative space equipped with the latest technology. Funding for the facility includes a $15 million investment from Jewish Hospital, $12.2 million in federal earmarks secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell, $4.2 million invested by the University of Louisville, a $5 million grant from Kosair Charities, $5.5 million from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Department of Commercialization and Innovation and $1.5 million from the Gheens Foundation.
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Media contacts
Ellen de Graffenreid
University of Louisville
502 852-7504
ellen.degraffenreid@louisville.edu
Barbara Mackovic
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare
502 587-4230
barbara.mackovic@jhsmh.org