• The University Hospital of Toulouse (CHUT), partner of CARDIOPATCH, organized an event in Toulouse on April 19 to bring closer to the society the activities of  this European project

• During the conference experts of the partners CHUT and IBMM presented the role of their teams to develop new solutions for the treatment of  cardiac pathologies

One of the objectives of CARDIOPATCH, an European project co-funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is to bring closer to society its solutions and progress in cardiac regenerative medicine for the treatment of myocardial infarction. In this context, the partner University Hospital of Toulouse (CHUT) organized a face-to-face conference on April 19 in Toulouse. 

The event, which was held at the Musée des Abattoirs, was an excellent opportunity for CARDIOPATCH to inform the general public about the work carried out by the consortium, its innovations and the biotechnology products that are being developed for patients with cardiovascular diseases.

It started with the presentation of the Professor Jerome Roncalli from the CHUT partner, who summarized the different current clinical treatments that are offered to patients after a heart attack and their restraints. After that, he presented the biotherapies to repair the after-effects of infarctions, including activities in cardiac cell therapy, which are currently being evaluated.

In addition, Prof. Roncalli gave an introduction to the CARDIOPATCH initiative, as well as the distribution of assignments among the consortium partners according to their competencies.

Then, Dr. Anne-Catherine Prats from the partner CHUT presented the work carried out by the Toulouse partner, which is focused on the optimisation of cells of interest by gene transfer and based on the role and functions necessary for cardiac regeneration. 

She explained the principles of gene transfer using viruses as vectors, the factors of interest and the methods for transporting the genes that code for them within adult stem cells derived from adipose tissue in the laboratory.

Finally, Professor Benjamin Nottelet from the partner IBMM ended the conference by presenting the role of his team within CARDIOPATCH  and the use of biomaterials in the treatment of cardiac pathologies. He presented the use that could be made of these biomateriales through the work carried out in the initiative: the creation of a patch, associated or not with cells, with the aim of repairing or even regenerating the heart of patients that have suffered from heart failure. 

The event ended with an exchange of ideas between the attendees and the researchers that took part as speakers.  

Led by Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), CARDIOPATCH project includes partners from Spain, France and Portugal: CIMA Universidad de Navarra, via the Foundation for Applied Medical Research, Leartiker Technology Center, Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, communication agency GUK, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, the University of Montpellier (UM) - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), GenIbet Biopharmaceuticals and the Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica.