Dr. Zachary Laksman has received funding from Genome Canada and Genome BC to lead a project with BC-based Axolotl Biosciences, that will use genomics-informed bio-inks to 3D-print heart tissue. The project aims to improve how scientists study heart disease and test drugs before they reach clinical trials.
Improving heart disease models
Heart disease is a leading cause of death, yet drug development is slow, costly and relies heavily on animal models that do not fully reflect human biology. As a result, many potential drugs fail in clinical trials due to poor early-stage testing models.
3D-printed “cardiac organoids” – small, lab-grown models of heart tissue made from human stem cells – offer a more accurate way to study heart disease and test new drugs.
Two new bio-inks for advancing precision medicine
This project will use human genetic information (“genomics-informed”) to develop two new “bio-inks”: the printing materials that, when combined with stem cells, allow scientists to create functional, realistic heart tissue in the lab. This genomics-informed approach allows researchers to account for biological differences between individuals, including sex-based differences and genetic risk factors.
The first bio-ink, called HeartPrint, will be an application-ready platform that will allow researchers to 3D-print human heart tissue for disease modelling and drug testing.
The second model, HeartPrint-M, will be developed using only stem cells and will include factors that help mimic more mature, adult-like heart tissue. This version will include sex-specific formulations, addressing long-standing gaps in how male and female heart differences are studied in biomedical research.
Freshly printed bio-ink (left) is visible. A 3D bioprinter (right) prints bio-ink to create models. Photo courtesy of Axolotl Biosciences.
Led by Dr. Laksman, a principal investigator at HLI, and Dr. Stephanie Willerth, the CEO of Axolotl Biosciences, this project brings together clinical science, bioengineering and genomics. It marks a major step toward safer, faster and more personalized treatment options for heart disease.
The project is being developed in collaboration with Dr. Yuan Yao of HLI and Dr. Leonard Foster of UBC’s Life Sciences Institute. It also receives in-kind support through Michael Smith Health Research BC’s match funding program.
Further Reading
- Read the official project details: Genome Canada – Laksman & Axolotl Biosciences
- Learn more about Axolotl Biosciences: Bioink | Axolotl Biosciences
ABOUT AXOLOTL BIOSCIENCES
Axolotl Biosciences is a Canadian biotechnology start-up based in Victoria, B.C., specializing in 3D bioprinting tools and reagents. The company provides bio-inks and tissue models for use in drug development, disease research and regenerative medicine.
ABOUT DR. ZACHARY LAKSMAN
Dr. Zachary Laksman is a clinician scientist at the University of British Columbia, HLI and St. Paul’s Hospital. His work focuses on cardiac precision medicine through the integration of clinical cardiology, stem cell research, electrophysiology and genomics. His lab is known for developing some of the first “disease-in-a-dish” models for heart conditions, using stem cells to better understand, diagnose and treat cardiac disease.