CAD involves a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque), also known as atherosclerosis, which reduces blood flow to the heart. CAD is the cause of most heart attacks and roughly one-third of all deaths in people over the age of 35 in developed countries [1].
Cynata has entered a preclinical development collaboration with the University of New South Wales investigating mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies using Cymerus™ MSCs for the treatment of CAD.
UNSW are developing methods for activating Cynata’s Cymerus MSCs using novel cell culture materials, with the goal of enhancing their potential to stimulate new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and improve blood supply to the heart in patients with CAD.
The research is led by Dr Kristopher Kilian, Scientia Fellow at the UNSW School of Chemistry and School of Materials Science and Engineering.
[1] Heart Foundation