The Chennai-based International Center for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases, promoted by Frontier Life Line and Dr. K M Cherian Heart Foundation, has set up International Centre for Biomedical Sciences and Technology (Research, Training and Applications), mainly aimed to develop India's first genetically engineered heart valve.
The centre will also undertake research in areas such as stem cells, regenerative therapy, genetically engineered valves and clinical use of bovine jugular veins, besides training and applications in biomedical sciences and technology. Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, president of India, inaugurated the centre on Saturday, last week.
According to sources, the stem cells research programme at the centre will concentrate on ischaemic heart diseases aimed at re-generation of heart cells and stem cells to replace pace maker. Other research projects include Cryopreservation of Cardiac Homografts, Xenografts and Decellularisation of Tissue and Autograft Engineering. Research is also being planned to develop biodegradable stents, to be used in angioplasty.
According to Dr. K M Cherian, "the newly set up Biomedical Sciences and Technology Centre will focus on research, training and applications in Biomedical Sciences and Technology and aim at deployment of trained personals as paramedical in villages and emergency centres on highways. With its expertise in cardio thoracic and vascular diseases, the centre would venture into new age research activities of this kind and aim at endeavours that result in affordable health and heart care to rural masses."
He said the centre would work towards discovering newer therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases. As part of the proposed projects in the area of Bio-Informatics, Neural Stem cells will be studied to develop novel and innovative therapeutic strategies in neurological disorders like mental retardation in children and Parkinsonism in addition to studying the effects of ventricular remodelling in congestive cardiac failure, simulation analysis to predict the shunt dynamics in cardiac patients and the role of functional genomics in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
In the area of Genetics, the centre will research on prevention and cure of genetic related heart diseases and genetic counselling. The centre also plans to develop tissue engineered autograft valve and conduit (genetically engineered valve) from xenograft (animal tissues) or homograft (human tissues) to function as autograft (re-generation of cell). The centre has already applied for International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for patent rights in connection with development of precursor cardiomyocytes.
The centre will offer basic degrees such as Bsc and Msc leading to PhD courses with hands on experience in Genetics and Genetic engineering, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Pathology and Microbiology, in association with other universities.
Inaugurating the centre, Dr. Kalam said medical technology should be used to help poor rural population in the country. India has about 60,000 villages where 70 per cent of the population lives, and a combination of technological and human solutions should be devised to tackle community health problems like heart diseases, which affect even the young. Medical transplantations, which bring together donors and recipients of different religions show secularism, noted the president.