This system could enhance preclinical disease modeling and therapeutic screening for cardiac pathologies in an in vitro setting, potentially reducing reliance on animal models and improving patient-specific research tools. 

Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in standard in-vitro conditions exhibit asynchronous beating, limiting their ability to model chronic heart diseases effectively. The lack of synchronized electromechanical stimulation reduces the maturity and physiological relevance of these cell models. This project aims to develop an integrated device that enables synchronized electrical pacing and mechanical stretching of hiPSC-CMs, ensuring improved cell maturation, reliable data collection, and enhanced disease modeling in both 2D and 3D environments. 

The goal of this project is to develop an integrated device that delivers both electrical pacing and mechanical stretch in synchronization to promote hiPSC-cardiomyocyte maturation and enhance physiological relevance in cardiac disease models.