AstroCardia
Welcome to the world of AstroCardia, a research project in which 5 Belgian companies and research centers are joining forces to improve heart health in a unique location: space!
Our mission? Studying heart ageing and creating a suitable research model by developing an artificial miniature heart model and vascular system using 3D bioprinting into a microfluidic chip – a so-called heart-on-a-chip.
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Developing a 'space heart' model to study cardiac health & ageing
Cardiovascular diseases are leading global causes of death, with risks rising as we age. Yet, researchers still lack a full understanding and realistic heart models to reveal the underlying biological processes.
That’s why 5 Belgian partners – SCK CEN, Space Applications Services, QbD Group, BIO INX, and Antleron – are pooling their knowledge and expertise to develop a suitable study model.
And they are doing so in an environment where scientists can better investigate heart ageing: space. Why? Because space is known to induce changes in the cardiovascular system of astronauts similar to the ageing process on Earth.