07/18/2014

Pacemaker Researchers Swap Batteries for Biology

7:39 minutes

Cells that were reprogrammed into pacemaker cells, in fluorescent green. Image courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute
Cells that were reprogrammed into pacemaker cells, in fluorescent green. Image courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute

What if instead of implanting an electronic pacemaker in your chest, scientists could reprogram a tiny portion of your heart cells to beat better? That’s what researchers at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have managed to do in six pigs with complete heart blocks, reporting the findings in Science Translational Medicine. Study author Eduardo Marbán discusses whether this treatment could be a long-term replacement for the traditional battery pack pacemaker.

Segment Guests

Eduardo Marbán

Eduardo Marbán is director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, California.

Meet the Producer

About Becky Fogel

Becky Fogel is a newscast host and producer at Texas Standard, a daily news show broadcast by KUT in Austin, Texas. She was formerly Science Friday’s production assistant.