Unique scientific acheivment of ICB BIOSTEM

The specialists of Cell and Tissue Cultivation Laboratory, one of the most important branches of ICB BIOSTEM, have made a real breakthrough in biotechnology: for the first time in Ukraine the scientists have cultivated healthy pulsatile culture of heart cells (cardiomyocytes) from stromal stem cells of a mouse.

This event has made a significant contribution into medical science since our specialists succeeded to recreate complicated stages of stem cell development and differentiation in vitro. All the scientists worldwide know that cardiomyocytes are the most complicated (high differentiated) cells, that is why it is extremely hard to recreate them in vitro.

It is difficult to overestimate practical importance of this acheivment since now it is possible to cultivate cardiomyocytes not only from embryonic stem cells but also from stromal ones. The point is that stromal stem cells unlike embryonic stem cells are more easy (and relatively cheap) to sample from patient's bone marrow. Owing to this acheivment it is possible to perform autologous transplantation of cardiomyocytes, eliminating the risk of rejection.

Next year ICB BIOSTEM will start practical application of cardiomyocytes cultivated in vitro for the patients, who suffer from ischemic heart disease and dilatated cardiomyopathy.