Research project title
Develpment of cardiac valves for the treatment of mitral valve insufficiency
Education level
Master or doctorate
Director/co-director
Director: Gregory De Crescenzo
Co-director(s): François Tournoux (Département de médecine, Université de Montréal)
End of display
September 30, 2025
Areas of expertise
Unit(s) and department(s)
Department of Chemical Engineering
Detailed description
Mitral insufficiency is a common valvulopathy characterized by abnormal blood reflux through the mitral valve, which can lead to cardiac overload and heart failure. Our team has developed an innovative approach to the treatment of this disease using synthetic heart valves.
We are looking for a motivated student to contribute to this multidisciplinary project, which covers the entire polymer valve development process, from manufacturing to preclinical validation. The student will participate in the optimization of materials, the mechanical and biological characterization of prototypes, and the evaluation of their performance in an artificial heart simulator prior to animal model testing. This project offers a unique opportunity to develop cutting-edge expertise in biomedical engineering and implantable device design.
Main objectives:
- Evaluate valve performance in an artificial heart
- Formulate hydrogels and functionalize them to optimize valve biocompatibility
- Develop percutaneous valve deployment system
Techniques and skills relevant to the project:
- Design and manufacture of heart valve molds by CAD and 3D printing
- Polymer chemistry and hydrogel formulation
- Mechanical (tensile and fatigue tests) and physicochemical characterization
- Basic electronics and programming skills
This project is aimed at engineering students wishing to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in biomedical engineering, with an interest in medical device design and biomaterials.
Financing possibility
Financial help provided according to the NSERC standards
