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.
Want to know more?
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.
![](https://astrocardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AstroCardia-768-x-1152-px.png)
![Hilde Stenuit](https://astrocardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/photo-Hilde-Stenuit-Space-Applications1-200x300-1-e1692966623160.jpeg)
![Dr Kevin Tabury](https://astrocardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1612426719664.jpeg)
![Martijn Reniers](https://astrocardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Martijn-Reniers.png)
![Jasper Van Hoorick](https://astrocardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jasper-Van-Hoorick_portret-2-e1692967599687.jpg)