MAE 298 Seminar: Fluid Dynamics of the Failing Heart - From Patient-Specific Hemodynamics to Structural Heart Engineering

Abstract: Structural heart disease encompasses a broad spectrum of congenital and acquired abnormalities that alter cardiac structure and disrupt the complex fluid dynamics that govern efficient cardiac function. Understanding how blood flow interacts with cardiac chambers and valves is critical for elucidating the mechanisms of heart failure and for developing effective therapeutic strategies. In particular, abnormal intracardiac flow patterns, energy loss and altered valve–ventricle coupling play important roles in the progression of valvular and myocardial disease.

At the Kheradvar Lab, we address these challenges through an engineering-centered approach that integrates cardiovascular fluid dynamics, biomechanics, advanced imaging and patient-specific modeling to better understand disease mechanisms and to create new therapeutic solutions. Our research combines computational and experimental methods with patient-derived data to study how structural abnormalities influence cardiac hemodynamics. One recent example is the use of patient-specific 3D-printed models to perform in vitro hemodynamic investigations of valvular diseases such as mitral stenosis caused by mitral annular calcification and rheumatic pathology, enabling detailed comparison of their distinct flow characteristics and hemodynamic consequences.

Building on these mechanistic insights, our group develops engineering strategies for the treatment of structural heart disease, including novel transcatheter and surgical valve platforms, hybrid tissue-engineered heart valves, and biomaterial-based solutions designed to improve durability and physiological function. These efforts are complemented by emerging imaging and analysis approaches aimed at improving our ability to quantify cardiac mechanics and hemodynamics. In particular, we are developing new methods for three-dimensional myocardial strain analysis together with Volumetric Echo-PIV to simultaneously characterize myocardial deformation and intracardiac flow fields. By integrating measurements of tissue mechanics with detailed flow dynamics, these techniques aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of cardiac function and the mechanistic links between structural disease, altered hemodynamics and heart failure.

In this presentation, I will discuss how integrating fluid mechanics, patient-specific experimental modeling, and biomedical engineering can advance our understanding of cardiac pathophysiology and accelerate the development of next-generation therapies for structural heart disease and heart failure

Bio: Dr. Kheradvar is a professor of radiological sciences, biomedical engineering and medicine at UC Irvine. He is a cardiovascular scientist and engineer with a broad background in cardiovascular engineering, heart valves, cardiac imaging and biomechanics. Kheradvar earned his M.D. from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2000 and his Ph.D. in bioengineering/engineering science from Caltech in 2006. With over 20 years of experience in cardiovascular engineering, science and technology, his work has been driven by a deep commitment to addressing unmet patient needs, particularly in the areas of structural heart diseases and cardiovascular imaging. His lab has been continuously funded by grants from NSF, NIH, AHA, industry and many private foundations.

Kheradvar has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, authored two books, and is the lead inventor of more than 50 issued U.S. and international patents, with several others pending. Kheradvar has been involved in developing a pipeline of promising technologies, guiding them from the conceptual stage to clinical development, with a focus on addressing important medical needs. His work is driven by a genuine desire to improve patient care and advance the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Kheradvar is a fellow of the American Heart Association, the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and American Society of Echocardiography