HeartBeat. bio and Cubase Bio partner to map cardiac fibrosis in 3D

HeartBeat. bio and Cubase Bio have launched a joint research initiative, FACTS-3D, to map cardiac fibrosis in three dimensions. The project aims to study how myocardial fibrosis develops and responds to treatment by combining human cardiac organoid models with 3D spatial transcriptomics. This collaboration seeks to overcome the limitations of animal models and 2D cell cultures, which often fail to replicate the complex cellular organization of human cardiac tissue.

The initiative has secured approximately $116 million through the Eurostars program, with support from Sweden’s Vinnova, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), and the European Union’s Horizon Europe. HeartBeat. bio will provide its Cardioid platform for investigating drug responses, while Cubase Bio will utilize its spatial transcriptomics technology to characterize molecular activity within intact organoid structures.

In a related development, research indicates that ex vivo cardiac simulators are becoming vital tools for personalized cardiovascular care. These platforms combine native cardiac tissue with mechanical circulatory systems to recreate physiological functions. Such simulators can be used for surgical training, preoperative planning for valvular or congenital heart diseases, and the testing of new medical devices under realistic hemodynamic conditions.