Standardized cell-based and in vivo disease models that recapitulate human heart disease are critical for quality control, reproducibility, and thus the development of novel targeted therapies. Here, we provide and expand defined established human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based in vitro models and standardized murine in vivo models to enable consistent experimental approaches and data integration within the CRC. We propose three areas of disease modelling: 1) iPSC and small animal models of genetic diseases, 2) iPSC and small animal models of acquired diseases, and 3) phenotypic techniques to analyze iPSC-based and in vivo structural and functional disease parameters.

Infrastructure of the Cardio Stem Cell Unit-Facility. (A) dedicated S2-level cell culture room with independent quarantine set-up, (B) iPSCs and (C) micropatterned iPSC-CMs, (D) automated nitrogen-tank for cell storage, (E) functional evaluation of iPSC-derived CMs in 3D engineered heart tissues with the Mantarray System, (F) high-content high-throughput analysis microscopy for contractility analysis, (G) multielectrode array analysis of electrical properties, and (H) calcium measurement using ratiometric analysis.