Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue-engineering vascular graft (TEVG) comprising a biodegradable scaffold, and a plurality of stem cell-derived vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), wherein the plurality of stem cell-derived VSMCs are seeded on the biodegradable synthetic polymer scaffold and are cultured under mechanical and biochemical stimulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to devices, systems, and methods for the production and characterization of engineered tissue constructs. The devices and methods generate decellularized tissue constructs that can be recellularized using donor cells for high-throughput studies of organ physiology, and/or organ pathology. The devices and methods can be used with the systems to mechanically and electrically stimulate the engineered tissue constructs under culture or physiological conditions to detect and assess the presence and degree of any organ pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to devices, systems, and methods for the production and characterization of engineered tissue constructs. The devices and methods generate decellularized tissue constructs that can be recellularized using donor cells for high-throughput studies of organ physiology, and/or organ pathology. The devices and methods can be used with the systems to mechanically and electrically stimulate the engineered tissue constructs under culture or physiological conditions to detect and assess the presence and degree of any organ pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the induction and a cell to enter the Islet 1+ (Isl1+) lineage and methods for expansion of cells of islet 1+ lineage. One aspect of the present invention relates to methods to induce a cell to enter the islet 1+ lineage, and more particularly to a method to induce a cell to enter a the Isl1+ lineage to become an Isl1+ progenitor that is capable of differentiating along multiple different lineages such as a endothelial lineage, a smooth muscle lineage or a cardiac lineage. In particular, one embodiment present invention relates to methods to induce a cell to enter the Isl1+ lineage by inhibiting a wnt signalling pathway in the cell. Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods to expand a cell of the Isl1+ lineage, such as a Isl1+ progenitor by activating a wnt signalling pathway in the Isl1+ progenitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.