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The University of Akron's BioEngineering for Translational Applications Laboratory (BETA Lab) has been awarded $200,000 by the American Heart Association to develop new heart valve implants using shape memory polymers. These implants aim to replace traditional metal valves, allowing for less invasive procedures and preventing the need for replacements as they degrade in the body.

Graduate and undergraduate students are actively engaged in the development process. Following the completion of material and structure, the lab plans to test the valves in animal models and eventually in clinical studies. The research may extend to other applications, such as wound healing and nerve regeneration, leveraging the properties of shape memory polymers.