Revolutionizing heart recovery Revolutionizing heart recovery

Dr. Emilio Alarcón has been leading innovative research to heal heart tissue after a heart attack. His team has developed a groundbreaking peptide-based material that mimics natural heart proteins, such as collagen, to restore and regenerate the heart's natural function.

Like science fiction

“The body is a living organism that works hard to heal us after injury. That’s precious energy we want to protect.” Dr. Alarcón’s team has been working tirelessly on therapeutic approaches to support this healing and improve cardiac function. Over the past several years, he and his team developed biodegradable materials delivered to the heart muscle, to help restore its capacity to beat.

But in 2024, a new therapeutic approach emerged: an engineered peptide-based material that has the power to safely deliver cargo molecules to the heart.

Describing his new creation like science fiction, Dr. Alarcón explains how this new generation of synthesized materials was engineered in a lab but inspired by nature. These materials, smaller than a human cell, mimic what’s naturally found in the heart, like collagen (a protein that makes up most of the heart), to restore and regenerate. This goes beyond keeping the heart beating mechanically — it heals the heart’s natural function.

Dr. Alarcón is a humble person, but he speaks with pride when he says, “I don’t oversell my research — I see the impact. And it’s all made possible by Heart & Stroke’s funding.”

A legacy of mentorship

In addition to his scientific achievements, Dr. Alarcón is passionate about mentorship. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, compassion, and understanding within his team, believing that these human aspects are as crucial as scientific knowledge. His mentorship has helped shape the careers of many young researchers, including a postdoctoral fellow who became a professor in Japan after overcoming significant research challenges with Dr. Alarcón’s guidance.

Radically people-centred

Dr. Alarcón’s work is deeply personal and people-centered. As a mixed-race individual with autism and the father of a son with Down syndrome and autism, he draws inspiration from his family and the patients he serves. He is committed to ensuring that every aspect of his research begins and ends with the well-being of patients in mind.