Heart Regeneration Research in Nonhuman Primates: A Model for Ventricular Pressure Overload

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the United States and can result in heart failure early in life. Stem cell grafts offer potential as a treatment for cardiac defects, but both laboratory bench experiments and whole-animal studies are necessary for progress in this area. By testing cardiac treatments in real-life situations, researchers can observe how the heart adapts to ongoing changes during exertion, such as beating more rapidly when an animal is running or climbing.