Understanding heart valve regeneration: The role of biomechanical forces

Heart valve disease is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. There are currently no pharmacological treatments, and individuals with severe disease need to undergo costly surgery to replace damaged valves with prosthetics. These prosthetic valves have significant limitations: mechanical valves require lifelong anticoagulation therapy, while bioprosthetic valves deteriorate within 7 to 15 years. With aging populations driving an increase in heart valve disease, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies. During embryonic development, biomechanical cues generated by heartbeat and blood flow guide the formation of heart valves. Can we use lessons learnt from development to promote heart valve regeneration in adults? Zebrafish, which share 70% of their genes with humans, possess heart valves that are morphologically similar to humans. Unlike human heart valves, zebrafish heart valves are highly regenerative. This project will uncover the mechanobiological mechanisms underlying this regenerative capacity, generating valuable insights as to how heart valve repair might be stimulated in humans. The successful candidate will use a variety of cutting-edge techniques, including: Ultrasound imaging of the beating heart High-resolution imaging of fixed tissues Microsurgical manipulation of intracardiac forces Zebrafish transgenesis About the Research Institute The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) is a cutting-edge research center located at the Monash Biosciences Precinct on the Clayton campus of Monash University. Established in 2009, ARMI is committed to advancing the field of regenerative medicine through innovative research and by fostering the next generation of scientific leaders. How to Apply We are seeking an honours, Masters, or PhD candidate who is passionate about contributing to scientific knowledge and improving human health. If you are interested in this project, please send your CV, Cover Letter, and full academic transcripts to renee.chow@monash.edu. PhD candidates are required to secure external funding. Subject to the rules of the funding body, our lab will supply PhD students with an additional $5000/year top-up scholarship. For more information about the lab: https://armi.org.au/our-groups/chow-group/