Mission
The goal of the Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology (LHCT) is to become a leading laboratory in the study of blood flow in relation to cardiovascular disease and to contribute to the advancement of cardiovascular technology through active transfer of our know-how to the clinic and to the medical technology sector.
Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in western societies. Coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure are examples of cardiovascular disease with important clinical impact, presenting a major scientific challenge for the development of optimal therapies. Cardiovascular disease is fought at all fronts, from basic science to clinical practice, and from genetics to vascular implants and mini-invasive procedures. It is a multi-factorial, multi-facet disease. The interest in hemodynamics, which concerns blood flow in the heart and vessels and its interactions with the heart tissue and vessel wall, derives from the fact that much of the functional behavior of the arterial wall and heart in physiology and pathology results from mechanical factors, a famous example being the localization of atheroma in regions of disturbed flow and low wall shear stress. Understanding the way blood flow and the related physical forces (pressure, tension, wall shear) interact with the heart and vascular tissue is one of the key elements in understanding the genesis, progression, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Current lines of research are:
- Arterial wall biomechanics and vascular remodeling
- Blood flow in the cerebral circulation
- Wave propagation in the systemic circulation
- Ventricular-arterial coupling in ageing and hypertension
- Effect of hemodynamical forces on the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle
Medical Technology and Technology Transfer
The Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology is committed in advancing Medical Technology and Transferring the results to the private sector. Startups issued from LHTC activities are:
- EndoArt SA (www.endoart.com). World leader in telemetrically-controled implantable devices for the treatment of Congential Heart Disease and Morbid Obesity. Acquired by Allergan Inc. in February 2007.
- Antlia SA. Developer of implantable drug delivery devices for the preclinical research.
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CONTACT
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Director:
Prof. Nikos Stergiopulos
nikolaos.stergiopulos@epfl.ch
Secretariat:
Mrs. Tamina Sissoko
tamina.sissoko@epfl.ch
Tel. +41-21-693.86.58
Fax. +41-21-693.96.35
Address:
Laboratory of Hemodynamics
and Cardiovascular Technology
Bâtiment AI
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland |
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