New possibilities for treating infant heart disease through stem cell research.

New research suggests that stem cells may be the key to treating heart conditions, which are the most common birth defects and the leading cause of infant mortality due to childhood heart disease.

On Wednesday, Professor Enzo Porrello, the Theme Director of Stem Cell Medicine at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss the research his team has conducted to identify the causes of congenital heart disease.

"Our stem cell research is highly recognized for generating a variety of human cell types and tissues from stem cells. In my research at MCRI, over the past decade, I have focused on developing miniature human heart tissues that can be grown in the lab and beat like real hearts."

"This technology enables us to create miniature human heart tissues from any individual, which is incredibly powerful as it allows us to grow these tissues from children with heart disease and use them to understand the causes of the disease and develop potential treatments."

Through his research, Porrello aims to identify the genetic basis of heart disease in a patient or family.

"To provide answers to patients and families about childhood heart disease, we need to conduct more research on its causes."

A heart transplant is typically the final option for patients, but luckily, heart failure is uncommon in children.

"Porrello stated that the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently around the body when it fails. There are no therapies that can target the underlying root cause of heart disease, prevent heart failure, or restore function to the failing heart."

"Although our current medications temporarily ease symptoms and slow disease progression, ultimately, a heart transplant is the final resort therapy," he stated.

Porrello stated that with the technology he has developed at MCRI, researchers can reprogram a blood or skin sample from any individual into a stem cell that can be used as a different cell type in the body, such as beating heart tissue.

Frankie, one of Porrello's cousins who was born with a heart defect, tragically passed away at the age of nine, inspiring his work.

"Porrello stated that we frequently examine families with a history of heart disease to identify potential underlying causes. Our ultimate goal is to develop treatments that specifically address the root cause of heart disease, thereby preventing its progression and reducing the need for transplantation."

"He concluded that we are at an incredibly exciting time in medicine and biotechnology, with technologies moving at a pace we haven't seen before. He is hopeful that the next decade will be even more exciting based on the progress made over the last ten years."