Q: For the past five years, you have focused your research on trying to create a specific cell in the heart called the pacemaker cell. The idea is that these cells could help a heart beat regularly and naturally on its own. Recently, your team was successful in creating functional pacemaker cells from stem cells in just 21 days. How did you do it?
A: It was tricky. You have to determine the right signalling molecules at the right concentration, at the right time, to stimulate the stem cells. We did it by replicating nature's way of making the pacemaker cells. Human trials are still some years away, but with our community support and the continued innovation of our team, we will get there.
Q: What impact does this breakthrough stand to have in the long term?
A: Our team is hoping to eventually develop a biological pacemaker to transplant into patients who need an electronic one. Since more than 18,000 electronic pacemakers are implanted every year into Canadian patients, this alternative therapy stands to change tens of thousands of lives. If we're successful, the biological pacemaker holds the promise of a lifelong cure. And it would be our committed donors, along with the world-class researchers who have devoted their careers to this work, who made that possible.
Q: You're a Principal Investigator at the newly established McEwen Institute. Why was the Institute created?
A: Over the last 15 years, incredible research has been done through the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine. Due to this success, UHN transitioned the efforts at McEwen Centre on a broad range of research areas to the McEwen Institute, focusing primarily on translating stem cell research to patient care in four key areas including heart, liver, blood and diabetes. The naming of the Institute recognizes the longstanding generosity of Rob and Cheryl McEwen who, since 2003, have spearheaded support for regenerative medicine at UHN. And thanks to their support, and the support of donors like the McEwens, the Institute will develop even more effective and cutting-edge treatments for heart disease, cancers of the blood like leukemia, type 1 diabetes and liver diseases using regenerative medicine with the full weight of UHN behind it.
Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Protze's work on UHN's Behind the Breakthrough podcast.