News Archives
June 3, 2008
NIH GRANT TO FUND DIABETES RESEARCH
A team of researchers at Louisville's Cardiovascular Innovation Institute are studying pancreatic cell transplants as a potential new weapon for fighting diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Two out of three people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease and management of blood sugar is an important factor for their overall health maintenance.
That's the goal of a project led by the institute's Stuart Williams. Williams received a grant of more than $1.25 million from the National Institutes of Health to help make pancreatic cell transplants possible.
"We are using new biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches to make it possible for doctors to transplant pancreatic islet cells, the cells that produce insulin," said Williams.
The project takes a two-pronged approach. First, keep the immune system from attacking the insulin-producing islet cells. The CII team is doing this by wrapping the pancreatic cells in a next-generation biomaterial that protects them from the immune system. The biomaterial is specifically engineered to allow glucose and insulin to pass through the material, keeping the cells functioning.
The second problem the team faces is to figure out a way to keep the transplanted cells alive with an adequate blood supply. The team has developed a way to pre-build a functioning blood supply with engineered tissue so that the cells can quickly go to work in the transplant environment.
"You could compare it to the way that a landscape architect designs an irrigation system before transplanting all of the new plants to an area. Once you get the plants in, you're ready to turn on the water," said Williams.
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.
October 9, 2007
CII SCIENTISTS REPAIR HEART ATTACKS WITH ENGINEERED TISSUE
Transplants of engineered heart tissue show promise for repairing heart attack damage in mice, according to a paper published today in the journal “Tissue Engineering.”
The study, completed by University of Louisville professors Stuart Williams and Jay Hoying, demonstrates that tissue containing small blood vessels can be grown in three dimensions in the laboratory with cells taken from the mouse’s own heart and transplanted to the surface of the heart after an acute heart attack.
In many types of heart attacks, the primary damage to the heart is caused by lack of blood flow – and its accompanying oxygen – to parts of the heart muscle. The affected areas of the heart can die, forming scar tissue that affects the overall function of the heart because it no longer contains a network of small blood vessels that bring energy to that part of the heart muscle.
The Cardiovascular Innovation Institute team, in collaboration with a colleague from Yale University, is investigating whether these laboratory-grown heart patches, designed to contain the muscle’s natural network of tiny blood vessels, can be transplanted to repair the heart after a heart attack.
The condition of the tissue, blood vessel networks and overall heart function were evaluated at seven, 14 and 28 days after the mouse tissue transplants took place.
The scientists found that as early as seven days after the transplant the small blood vessels began to grow together with the host heart’s blood vessel network. Fourteen and 28 days after transplant, heart function continued to improve and the dead tissue area caused by the heart attack was smaller. The engineered tissue itself grew and integrated with the host heart tissue.
“This study is very promising for future cardiac repair and regeneration in humans,” said Williams.
“We continue to investigate the use of heart patches. Previous studies using a cell-based heart patch have now entered Phase I clinical trials in humans. This latest study represents a new generation of heart patch that can be created using a patient’s own cells,” he added.
A partnership between the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital, the CII strives to improve quality of life for heart failure patients by building on the success of both organizations’ previous work with ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts.
The CII’s state-of-the-art building, 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, $6.2 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.
August 16, 2007
CII HOSTS SIGNING CEREMONY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR BILL
Governor Ernie Fletcher visited the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute on April 18th for a signing ceremony of House Bill 185, the legislation establishing the Kentucky Cardiovascular Disease Initiative.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) is intended to improve the heart health of Kentucky residents suffering from or at risk for cardiovascular disease, one of the commonwealth’s leading causes of death.
Seventy-three of Kentucky’s 120 counties have cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates above the national average. Twenty counties exceed the national average by 25 percent. Women comprise 53 percent of all CVD deaths in Kentucky and CVD accounts for 1/3 of all female deaths in Kentucky.
The bill establishes programs to provide early identification of high risk patients for cardiovascular disease in Kentucky. The initiative includes screening and identification of risk factors through health departments and schools, development of a web based decision tree application, treatment for patients in their home communities and development of a new educational program for teenagers and children.
A partnership between the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare, the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute strives to improve quality of life for heart failure patients by building on the success of both institutions’ work with ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts.
Jan. 13, 2007
Stuart K. Williams Named Scientific Director
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Internationally-known bioengineering researcher Stuart K. Williams has been selected as the scientific director for Louisville’s Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII). His appointment must be confirmed by the CII Board of Directors.
Professor and chairman of University of Arizona’s biomedical engineering since 1997, Williams also directs the Arizona Research Laboratories’ division of biomedical engineering and holds joint appointments in University of Arizona’s departments of materials science and engineering, surgery and physiology.
At the CII’s grand opening reception, institute medical director and professor of surgery Laman Gray, Jr., said, “I am thrilled to make this announcement this evening. Dr. Williams brings tremendous expertise in translational research and a stellar track record of scientific research to Louisville.”
“Dr. Williams work is an outstanding fit for the CII and the University of Louisville. As a leader, a scientist and an entrepreneur, his expertise in biomedical engineering and materials science will complement the work being done by several of our distinguished faculty. I look forward to seeing the progress he will bring the Institute in the future,” said U of L President James Ramsey.
“We’ve frequently asked ourselves -- how can Louisville distinguish itself as being great in the health sciences,” said Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare President and CEO, Bob Shircliff.
“One key answer is our niche in heart assist technology. The driving success behind the establishment of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute has been the pioneering work done by Drs. Laman Gray, Rob Dowling and Roberto Bolli. This will be enhanced with the efforts of Dr. Williams. The University of Louisville’s collaboration with Jewish Hospital makes us niche players in this effort, and quite literally, Louisville can and will become the best in the world in this critical area of research and development.”
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell praised the progress being made at the CII, “Researchers at the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute are on the leading edge of heart therapy research and I’ve been proud to support their efforts to save lives by securing funds for the Institute. Because we’ve invested in their work, we can look forward to a day when treatments for America’s leading killer are developed right here in Louisville.”
At University of Arizona Health Sciences Center since 1991, Williams boasts a long list of academic and administrative positions. He earned a B.A. in biological sciences, an M.S. in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in cell biology at the University of Delaware. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pathology at Yale University School of Medicine.
Williams has authored numerous scientific publications. His research spans the fields of cardiovascular bioengineering, biomaterials and diabetes and is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the United States Army, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and several private corporations. He is the co-founder of three biosciences companies and serves as a scientific advisor for several others. Williams holds 15 U.S. patents and has several additional patents pending.
A partnership between the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital, the institute strives to improve quality of life for heart failure patients by building on the success of both institutions’ work with ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts.
The state-of-the-art facility, located at 302 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 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, $6.2 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.
May 11, 2006
Cardiovascular Innovation Institute Receives First Competitive Grant
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Scientists at the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute working with a private biosciences company have received a federal grant to develop a new device designed to treat congestive heart failure.
The Small Business Innovation Research grant of nearly $173,000 will allow researchers to test a pacemaker-like device aimed at helping the heart recover by boosting blood flow to the heart and reducing its workload.
“This is one of the first devices designed specifically to help the heart recover from congestive heart failure without the need for a heart transplant,” said Steven Koenig, U of L surgery professor and principal investigator for the project.
Koenig, surgery professors Kenneth Litwak, George Pantalos and Robert Dowling and cardiologist James Kang, are partnering in the study with Paul Spence, cardiothoracic surgeon and founder of Louisville biosciences company SCR Inc. The grant will allow the team to test the safety and effectiveness of the device before it is used in people. Clinical trials are expected to begin in about two years.
“This is a great collaboration with an experienced team of experts,” Spence said.
The institute’s accreditation as a good laboratory practices facility makes it “the perfect place to bring this device to patients quickly,” he added. Research organizations holding the distinction follow a detailed protocol that makes it easier for other scientists to duplicate their work.
The Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, now being built on U of L’s Health Sciences Center at the Louisville Medical Center, will include an expanded research facility and training and administrative space equipped with the latest technology.
Small Business Innovation Research grants are designed to encourage small businesses to explore the potential for developing new technologies that may lead to commercialization.
November 9, 2005
KY Department of Commercialization & Innovation Awards $675,000 to CII
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII) has received a $675,000 grant from The Kentucky Department of Commercialization and Innovation has awarded a grant of $675,000 for the development, testing, and clinical trials of new heart assist devices that may provide hope and a better quality of life for desperately ill heart failure patients.
A partnership among the University of Louisville, Jewish Hospital and the state of Kentucky, the institute strives to improve quality of life for heart failure patients by building on the success of Dr. Laman Gray’s work with ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts.
”The CII is an outstanding example of a collaboration between the Commonwealth, the healthcare industry and higher education that will create jobs, attract investment and improve the lives of our citizens,” said Deborah Clayton, Commissioner of the Department of Commercialization and Innovation.
“Kentucky has been a vital partner in this project since its inception. We very much appreciate having the state’s backing as we explore new technology and improve the lives of those who have heart disease,” said Ron Greenberg, Executive Director of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute.
January 11, 2005
Gheens Foundation Gives $1.5 Million to Cardiovascular Innovation Institute
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Gheens Foundation has committed $1.5 million to the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII) to support research critical to the development, testing, and clinical trials of new heart assist devices that may provide hope and a better quality of life for desperately ill heart failure patients.
A partnership between the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital, the institute strives to improve quality of life for heart failure patients by building on the success of Dr. Laman Gray’s work with ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts.
Jim Davis, Executive Director of the Gheens Foundation, “The Gheens Foundation and its Trustees are honored to be a part of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute. We see this grant as a natural extension of our commitment to the community.”
The gift of $1.5 million over three years will create the Gheens Foundation Biosensor Research Center at the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute. The center will focus on developing new and improved biomaterials to make existing heart assist devices more compatible with the human body and on biosensor research that may lead to innovative new devices for patients with heart failure.
“This gift provides funding for two key initiatives within the CII,” said James Ramsey, U of L president and immediate past chairman of the CII Board of Directors. “We are grateful that the Gheens Foundation recognizes the potential of this innovative partnership, and their support will jump-start research programs in the critical areas of biosensors and biomaterials.”
“The CII is on a fast track,” said Hank Wagner, president of Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services and chairman of the CII board of directors. “Because of the Gheens Foundation’s vision, we will be better equipped to bring new heart assist devices from the bioengineer’s laboratory to the patient’s bedside as quickly as possible."
June 11, 2004
Kosair Charities Gives $5 Million to Create Pediatric Heart Research Center
LOUISVILLE -- The numbers are startling. Almost twice as many children die from congenital heart disease in the United States each year as die from all forms of childhood cancers combined, according to the American Heart Association. And at least eight infants out of 1,000 are born with a heart defect each year.
According to officials with the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, children suffering from heart disease will soon benefit from a center in Louisville that specializes exclusively in children’s heart research.
Kosair Charities has made a $5 million charitable commitment to the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, a partnership of the University of Louisville, Jewish Hospital and Kentucky’s Office for the New Economy, to create the Kosair Charities Pediatric Heart Research Center. The pediatric center will focus on assessing and developing better heart assist devices that meet the special needs of children.
"Kosair Charities has led the way in the medical care of children since 1923,” said Kosair Charities president Larry Hamfeldt. “We are delighted to aid this vital research so no child is born with a broken heart."
Specifically, the grant will be used to create the Kosair Charities Chair in Pediatric Heart Surgery Research, a position that will direct the research efforts of the center, according to James Ramsey, chair of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute board and president of U of L. The chair will receive state matching funds from the Research Challenge Trust Fund, more commonly called “Bucks for Brains.” The funds will also provide seed funding for laboratory and clinical studies.
“This is a major step forward for us in our efforts with the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute,” Ramsey said. “We are elated that our good friends at Kosair Charities have committed to partnership with us on this important initiative.”
"I applaud Kosair Charities for its visionary leadership in funding a pediatric component for the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute,” said Hank Wagner, vice chair of the institute and President of Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services. “The grant adds another dimension to the already impressive goals for the institute. With Kosair Charities help, we will be better equipped to bring treatments for heart disease to the forefront and improve the quality of life for adults and children for generations to come."
According to Wagner, the institute will build on the internationally recognized work of U of L and Jewish Hospital surgeons Laman Gray, Erle Austin and Robert Dowling. The surgeons and their research teams will use their vast experience with cardiac devices, including the research and implantation of the world’s first totally implantable artificial heart devices, to focus new efforts on improving the performance of existing devices and developing the next generation of bio-adaptive heart innovations.
"This grant means a great deal to the children of Kentucky,” said Austin, a pediatric heart surgeon. “This has the potential to give kids more treatment options and a better quality of life. The research work we will be able to do now will give many of them a future they might not otherwise have."”
The institute facility, which is slated to open in 2006, will bring together biologists, cardiologists, engineers, physiologists and surgeons to work together in one place. The facility will house research labs, fabrication facilities, operating rooms, recovery rooms, diagnostic equipment, training facilities, medical imaging areas and mock circulation labs, institute officials said.
In addition to Kosair Charities’ support, funding for the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute includes $15 million from Jewish Hospital and $5 million from the Kentucky Office for the New Economy. Nearly $3 million in federal grants secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell will fund the facility’s state-of-the-art equipment.
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