Polycoarct is a growth-accommodating stent for pediatric aortic coarctation, developed by the Vascular Engineering and Applied Biomedicine Group – GEVAB group at IQS School of Engineering and the Edelman Lab – Harvard-MIT Biomedical Engineering Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This project has been awarded two renowned competitive grants from MIT HEALS-Deshpande Centre for Technological Innovation and from the MIT-Northpond Seed Fund.
PolyCoarct is pediatric bioresorbable stent developed by the GEVAB group at IQS and the Edelman Lab’s group at IMES–MIT. The project has received two prestigious competitive grants from MIT: one from the MIT HEALS–Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation and another from the MIT–Northpond Seed Fund.
Pediatric aortic coarctation is a serious congenital condition in which a narrowing of the aorta places lifelong strain on the cardiovascular system. Although surgery, angioplasty, and metallic stents can relieve the obstruction, they cannot accommodate a child’s growth. Many young patients therefore face repeated procedures and increased risk over time. This project aims to redefine what long‑term treatment can look like.
The IQS–MIT team has developed a bioresorbable stent engineered specifically for the dynamic physiology of growing children. Its unique, patented design provides the radial force needed to open the vessel while enabling gradual resorption as the artery remodels and grows. This approach restores natural vascular development rather than constraining it, addressing a longstanding unmet need in pediatric cardiovascular care.
Extensive in vitro testing with human cells and blood, and in vivo implantation studies in New Zealand white rabbits have demonstrated delivery feasibility, favorable mechanical performance and excellent biocompatibility. The technology has been recognized among the Top 6 Pediatric Technologies worldwide by APDI and Impact4Kids, with supporting research published in Materials & Design. With this funding, the next phase will focus on long-term evaluation in growing animal models, alongside continued intellectual property development and preparation for clinical translation along a US-first PMA regulatory pathway.
The ultimate goal is a growth-compatible implant that reduces repeat interventions, supports healthy vascular development, and delivers durable clinical and economic benefit over the lifetime of children born with congenital cardiovascular disease.
“Receiving these two competitive grants is a tremendous recognition of the scientific and translational merit of PolyCoarct. The fact that successful entrepreneurs and business experts in the US believe in our project gives us great confidence and assurance to reach even further pediatric care”, says Dra. Mercedes Balcells, Principal Research Scientist at Institute for Medical Engineering and Science – Massachussets Institute of Technology – MIT and Professor at the Bioenginering Department at IQS.
“This recognition from MIT’s innovation ecosystem means a great deal to our team. We came to MIT with a bold scientific idea, and the technology transfer infrastructure — from the Deshpande Center to the MIT–Northpond Program — gives us the frameworks, mentorship, and resources to transform it into a credible commercial venture. We are especially grateful to the mentors (including Robert Farra, Jon McGrath) and evaluators who saw the potential of PolyCoarct at an early stage.”, says Dr. Francesc Canalejo, Project Leader of PolyCoarct.
The MIT HEALS–Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, founded in 2002, has invested over $23 million in 200+ research projects, generating more than 60 spinouts that have raised over $1.5 billion. Around 30% of funded projects became commercial ventures, making it one of the world’s most successful academic proof-of-concept programs.
The MIT–Northpond Program, launched in 2022 through a $12 million five-year partnership, focuses on turning MIT research into venture-backed startups in diagnostics, therapeutics, biomanufacturing, and AI medicine. It is backed by Northpond Ventures, a leading life sciences investor managing over $2 billion and supporting 70+ companies.
