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Even if heart health isn’t your top concern in the new year, you can’t go wrong staying on top of your cardiovascular wellbeing. Sadly, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And a recent study found that 40% of adults between the ages of 50 and…
As we prepare for this holiday season, with an extra dose of joy and elation, please keep in mind what overindulgence can do to your heart health, even in a relatively short period of time. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that during the holiday season, when we not only tend to overindulge the most…
Unfortunately, despite a considerable increase in organ donations during the current pandemic the need for donor organs still far outpaces donations. All too many patients continue to wait for a life-saving organ transplant. Currently more than 106,000 men, women and children sit on the transplant waiting list in the US. And there are countless more…
For the last several decades aging has been recognized as one of the primary contributing factors of cardiovascular disease, but young adults can have any number of contributing risk factors as well. Young adults are increasingly being diagnosed with hypertension: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease….
Veterans Day is this Thursday November 11th, 2021. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, which was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson a year after the end of World War I. It is a day to observe and thank all those who have served in the US military. It is a day…
November has arrived, and along with the changing leaves, colder weather, and the holiday season, it’s also Diabetes Awareness Month. Throughout November in particular it is important to bring attention to the challenges with diabetes care, prevention, and support for yourself and/or a loved one. You may not know it but there is a strong…
We have all been working extremely hard to deal with the significant effects of the pandemic for many months now and it appears as if many may have ignored their heart health as a result. Unfortunately, all too many of us have put off health care in general because it has not been convenient or…
Beginning in 1992, World Mental Health Day takes place each October. This year it comes at a time when our daily lives continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health challenges continue to be significant. The pandemic has affected nearly everyone, regardless of age. It has had significant impact physically for millions through infection, illness,…
Many of us already know of and take part in the many benefits of walking and how it can protect and strengthen our hearts, assist in weight-loss, and improve our overall physical and mental health. What you may not know is by simply enhancing your walking habits you can bring even greater impact to your…
Each winter hospitals see an increase in the number of patients with heart attack symptoms as compared to the rest of the year. Starting in November and lasting until April, the number of patients with heart problems can be overwhelming for hospital emergency rooms. Research shows there is a 50 percent increase in heart attacks…
The eyes do more than allow us to see; they also have something to say. In fact, certain conditions observed in the eye during routine eye exams could indicate underlying health problems. How exactly? The arrangement of blood vessels at the back of the eye, also known as the retina vasculature, is closely connected to…
Many of us will start this weekend as we start every other weekend, often with either a hectic “to-do” list, planned social activities and/or just some planned relaxation. The biggest distress will seemingly to be whether or not it will all get done. But this is not a normal weekend. As we know, twenty years…
The original objective of Labor Day was to help offset the pressure of long working hours and little to no time off, in short literally to give workers a break. Although labor laws and workplace safety requirements have since been addressed by legislators some time ago, the need to step back and take a break…
Stressful situations can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce identifiable physiological changes. Whether the stress is a result of external challenges such as a looming work deadline, or an internal trigger such as persistent worrying about losing a job or financial pressures, any stress trigger will initiate some physiological response in your body. …
During the first half of 2021 a total of 21,061 organ transplants have been performed in the U.S. according to data from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network under federal contract. Organ transplants from deceased donors are also up by 11%. A total of 17,821 deceased…
August 15th is National Relaxation Day. It was actually founded in 1985 by a fourth grader named Sean Moeller who suggested that on this day people should not do anything other than just relax. That simple. Stress is a feeling that more and more of us are becoming all too familiar with. Whether it is…
What causes atrial fibrillation? Genetics and age play a role, but the big three contributing factors of A-fib are age, high blood pressure, and obesity. Because two of these three major contributing factors are within our control many cases of A-fib, just like many other forms of heart disease, are often preventable. By taking control of our…
In 1964, a child psychologist named Boris Levinson coined the term “pet therapy” after he realized that his dog, Jingles, was instrumental in getting his patients to feel more comfortable in speaking to him. The children would interact with Jingles directly, allowing the doctor to make a connection. But Dr. Levinson was not the first…
Although one type of inflammation can actually be helpful to the body, the presence of another type has the potential to fuel major illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and many types of cancer. If you have ever cut your finger, you have experienced inflammation. This “acute” inflammation triggers a response within your body to stop…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close to one-third of all U.S. adults over the age of 50 have little or no physical activity outside of work. Study after study finds physical activity is critical to preserving good heart and brain health, particularly as we age. However, despite the abundance of research that…
Fathers do so many different things for us including helping to protect us and keep us safe. So, there is no better time than Father’s Day to give back that heartfelt protection to all the wonderful men in our lives. Most people do not realize that nearly half of adult men in the U.S. have…
Studies show that men are twice as likely to have a heart attack than women. Studies also show men to be less likely to seek healthcare assistance than women. This is likely a result of a socially outdated mindset that going to the doctor exhibits weakness, but regardless it is important that men recognize that…
We all love it! For some it is a year-round pleasure and for others it is a seasonal luxury we start to enjoy soon after the long cold winters have ended – either way, we can’t wait to fire up that grill! As we do, however, we should be mindful and try not to overindulge…
With the recent passing of Cecil who has now became the oldest organ donor in the United States at 95, our deepest sympathies to his family for their loss. But we celebrate that, even at 95 years of age, Cecil has given another the gift of life. While as always we have strong feelings as…
Did you know that the No. 4 cause of death for women each year is a stroke? And did you realize strokes kill more women than men every year? One in 5 women will have a stroke. About 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year in the US. Stroke is the No….
There seems to be a day dedicated for almost anything and everything these days. Some may even be considered silly by most, but there are many days dedicated to an awareness to help us take a step back from our hectic lives by reminding us to unwind and enjoy for better health. On April 23rd,…
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women globally. There is an even larger increase in cardiovascular deaths in younger individuals over the last decade. Sadly, 1 in 5 heart attack survivors are under the age of 40. An age group that is considered “very young.” While several factors could contribute to…
Move More Month was established by the American Heart Association and aims to encourage all Americans to take part in more physical activity and to strive to do so on a regular basis as part of our daily routines. Formally known as National Walking Day it was officially changed to “Move More Month” in order…
It’s April 1st otherwise known as “April Fool’s Day”. Many will take part in pulling off their best planned jokes and pranks on their unaware friends, family, and co-workers. May this day bring you some extra laughter, and remind us that life without fun is incomplete. As we spend this day full of pranks and…
Check out this recent podcast about the Bioprinting of Functional Organs featuring BIOLIFE4D’s CEO-Steven Morris who discusses bioengineering human hearts and other organs for future organ transplants, what are some of the social impacts associated with this technology, and what the future holds with regards to this technology. …
This Sunday March 14, 2021 at 2 am officially begins Daylight Savings Time. This is often viewed as a sign that winter is behind us, so we happily welcome this time change. However, while most all of believe it is no big deal and we are only losing one hour of sleep, in reality it…
Spring is just around the corner…. A second chance at those New Year’s Resolutions! Many of us welcome spring with big smiles and open arms, waving those bitter cold winter nights and all the snow good-bye for now. The rise in temperatures along with the daily return of a bright sun promotes new energy in…
World Compliment Day was originated by Hans Poortvliet, a recognition professional in the Netherlands. In the early 2000s, after he started the initiative in his own country, the success of it made him wonder if making it worldwide instead of just national would eventually turn it into “The Most Positive Day in The World”. Even…
As a follow-up from our previous post, we would like to send out a Huge Wholehearted Thank-You for those who have since become organ donors supporting those in need. Although National Donor Day has ended until next year, you can still show your support at any time if you decide to become an organ donor….
Hearts, flowers, chocolates, and cards! An abundance of these items are always circulating this time of year as we celebrate those who mean the most to us on Valentine’s Day! February 14, is not only Valentine’s Day, it is also National Donor Day which began in 1998 from the Saturn Corporation and their United Auto…
In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease & stroke as the number one…
Whether you are reaching out to us via email or through social media, or getting in touch with us directly, at BIOLIFE4D one of the most popular questions we get asked is Why the heart? Why not a lung or kidney? One reason we are focused on the heart is because for someone to receive a life-saving donor…
We all lead busy lives and often lose sight of taking care of ourselves and that muscle that keeps us going. Our heart is needed to work around the clock for us, day and night, while we are awake and while we sleep, making it the most important muscle in your body. It performs the…
Despite common belief, your brain is actually not a muscle anatomically, even though it contains a bit of muscle. It is predominantly gray and white matter with cellular structure and function which is considerably different from that of a typical muscle. Regardless, there’s excellent reason for treating the brain like we treat our muscles –…
This will be an incredibly difficult decision for all of us in our struggle against the global pandemic. Painful as it may be, skipping the traditional holiday trip and holiday gatherings with families and loved ones this year could, however, deliver the greatest difference for future celebrations to come. Until vaccines are available to everyone…
Our hands are potentially 2 of the most lethal weapons that could unknowingly aid in the transmission of the flu or flu-like illnesses such as COVID-19! National Handwashing Awareness Week takes place the first week every December. The CDC in conjunction with infection prevention experts across the globe come together to increase awareness of this…
As we celebrate another Thanksgiving this year, most of us sit in an entirely different mindset as we were this time last year. With the on-going strong presence of Covid-19 among us, the holiday season, and the traditions around them involve many hard decisions. Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are meaningful and fun but…
Almost 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes and one in four may not even realize they are walking around with the disease. Diabetes Awareness Month is an annual event that takes place each November to raise awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, and types of diabetes. People from around the world…
Flu season has arrived, so getting your flu shot has never been more important. Catching the flu can weaken your immune system and worsen your ability to fight off COVID-19. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Still not…
The holiday season is fast approaching, as BIOLIFE4D continues to progress towards commercializing our incredible technology, and everyone is learning to deal with COVID-19, the industry is hopeful to have new therapies and even vaccine candidates to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us. All good news moving in the right direction, but everyone must be…
A reminder to change your clocks back this weekend. Sunday, November 1, 2020, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned back 1 hour to1:00:00 am local standard time. Like many of us who are not usually up at this time, set them before you go to bed for the night on October 31st, so you will be sure to wake to the…
Forbes, Crain’s, USA Today, Readers Digest to rename a few, you can now add Esquire International to the list. While the idea of immortality might sound bizarre and far-fetched, technology could potentially help people live even longer. Words by Josh Sims-Journalist & Author Esquire Magazine Esquire International Magazine a leading publication featured an interview with…
Supporting your immune system and staying healthy should be at the top of everyone’s list this fall and winter more so than ever due to the global pandemic we continue to face. A healthy body generally repels and fights infection and illness better than an unhealthy body. Although most of us have already committed to…
Everyone at BIOLIFE4D is proud to announce our newest addition to our executive team, Kate Lewis. A pharmaceutical veteran and our company’s first female executive, Kate will proudly lead commercialization efforts of BIOLIFE4D’s live-saving 3D bioprinting technologies. Kate brings more than 25 years of experience and relationships from within the pharmaceutical, transplantation, and regulatory industries….
19 years ago today, we all started our day like any other day – having breakfast with our families, making our way to work or school, enjoying time with family, friends and colleagues. Then those fateful 102 minutes. Everyone’s life changed instantly. Those who were immediately and directly impacted, those who heroically sacrificed everything to…
World Heart Day is Tuesday September 29th, 2020 This is a perfect day to quit smoking, start exercising, eat healthy and see a doctor regularly. All in the name of protecting your ticker and doing your very best to keep it in good working shape. World Heart Day encourages everyone around the world to step…
Most everyone has heard of Rachael Ray and her highly watched TV show on WGN with over 10 million viewers each day. The producers of the show reached out to our CEO Steven Morris and let him know they are aware of who we are and what we are doing, and asked permission to use our…
The global pandemic has certainly changed the world and how we now think and react to situations in our lives. Please do not allow this to delay or change your thought process during an emergency. Many hospitals are seeing fewer heart attack and stroke patients, it does not mean those events are on a decline….
We say good-bye to summer, as another August comes to an end. With fall season right around the corner, leading into another year that will soon be behind us. A perfect time to give serious thought for Healthy Aging Month which takes place in September. Like most, we feel the word aging is meant for…
Congratulations are in Order! Last week at MedCity INVEST, their Pitch Perfect competition spotlighted presentations from healthcare startups in five categories: health services, health IT, medical devices, biopharma and diagnostics. Five companies competed in each track. It may have been a virtual event this year but each of the finalists who presented proved that a conversation about…
These days, particularly with the extended time everyone is spending at home, we’ve been able to spend more time than ever with our pets. As a result, our pets often benefit by getting a lot more walks, ball tosses and fetching sessions. While that is great exercise and lots of fun for our pets, we…
We all have those songs… the playlist rooted deep in our lives built from as far back as our early grade school days. The music we have long cherished and linked to the best moments of our lives. Today, especially in these uncertain times, listening to music is a far better choice than watching the…
The American Heart Association says pets are good for heart health because they help us reduce stress. But I think we all knew that already. Hugging a household pet often makes us laugh and smile — a wonderful way to ease tension. As a result of the pandemic we continue to face unsettling challenges such…
Cherish the celebration of this 4th of July weekend filled with BBQ’s, picnics, and fireworks surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones. For many of us this may be the first in-person gathering since the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine, so let’s make sure to stay safe, not to let our guard down and to…
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic in the US alone a person suffered a heart attack every 40 seconds, and the global pandemic we currently face will certainly make this terrible statistic continue to get worse. With that in mind it has never been more important for us to not let our guard down as we…
Studies show that men are twice as likely to have a heart attack than women, and in light of June being men’s health awareness month here are 5 heart healthy activities you just might want to try out. GARDENING Yes! Tending to your yard is actually a great way to keep your heart rate up…
High Cholesterol– also known as “the other silent killer” is the waxy substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of atherosclerosis, heart disease, heart attack and stroke. You can develop fatty deposits due to high cholesterol in your blood vessels….
As we enter another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, for many it may be difficult to think about anything else right now. COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on our lives, our loved ones, and how it will change the foreseeable future, consuming a great majority of our thoughts. In April we experienced a “stay-at-home”…
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2020 Update The age-adjusted death rate attributable to cardiovascular disease (CVD), based on 2017 data, is 219.4 per 100,000. On average someone dies of CVD every 37 seconds in the U.S. There are 2,353 deaths from CVD each day, based on 2017 data. On average someone in the U.S. has a…
While April brings warmer days, spring showers, and several holidays, it also marks a significant month. National Donate Life Month is an important time to honor all those that have saved lives through donation, as well as encourage all individuals to register as organ, tissue and eye donors. Did you know that 90% of adults…
From our team at BIOLIFE4D, we hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this trying time. We’re especially thinking of all individuals with underlying health conditions. Difficult circumstances like this make it even more important to be heart healthy and do all that you can to prevent heart disease. Everyone can benefit by adapting…
As cases of COVID-19 spread throughout the country, our daily lives and routines will continue to be impacted. Quarantine is certainly a new concept for many people, but it’s so important to do all that you can to stay active and well. Below, we’ve outlined a few tips and suggestions to take a look at…
We are extremely proud to announce that recently, our Chief Science Officer Dr. Ravi Birla jointly published a paper in the prestigious scholarly journal, APL Bioengineering with Stuart K. Williams, a renowned expert within cardiovascular research and biomedical engineering. From the entire BIOLIFE4D team, we would like to congratulate Dr. Birla on this remarkable accomplishment. It’s an…
Rather than a luxury, sleep should be considered a necessity. Achieving the proper amount of sleep can help your physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing. When it comes to your physical health, a lack of sleep could cause disruptions in biological processes (such as blood pressure and inflammation) and also in underlying health conditions. Research suggests…
As we’ve continued through our journey toward 3D bioprinting a viable heart for human transplant, we’ve been fortunate to receive an incredible outpouring of support from the transplant community. Whether it’s sharing personal transplant stories or advocating for the future of our technology, it can’t be understated how much the community’s support means to us…
We have exciting news to share! Last month, our team took the initiative to protect more of our groundbreaking intellectual property and filed a provisional patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This patent application, #62/962,337, is the second such one that’s been filed over the last year. The other application, #62/845,162, is for…
Hearts, roses, chocolates, and cards – it’s that time of year again. Tomorrow, we celebrate love and those who mean the most to us. However, Valentine’s Day is not the only national day on our minds. February 14 also marks National Donor Day: a day of awareness dedicated to all types of donation (organ, tissue, eye,…
February is American Heart Month – the perfect time to give your heart much needed love. This month, our team encourages you and your loved ones to learn about the signs for heart disease, how you can avoid the risks and ways to implement healthy lifestyle changes. To date, approximately 85.6 million people live with at least…
Burn-out: the feeling of deep exhaustion, negativity, and a significant reduction in productivity and efficiency. Although it can relate to several stressors, burn-out is often associated with workplace stress. Recently, the World Health Organization included burn-out in its international classification of diseases, and defined it as an “occupational phenomenon” that stems from chronic workplace stress that…
As you likely know by now, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women globally. What you may not know, is we’ve seen an even larger increase in cardiovascular deaths in younger individuals over the last decade. According to a recent study, 1 in 5 heart attack survivors is under 40 years…
In the United States alone, roughly 20 people die each day waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Every 10 minutes, a new name is added to the donor organ waitlist, with over 114,000 people currently on the list. Globally, we’ve been witnessing the shortage of organs available for transplant and the number of individuals waiting is only…
It’s officially a new year and you know what that means- a time where many people create resolutions. If you’ve ever created a New Year’s resolution that slipped under the cracks, you’re not the only one. This year, we suggest focusing on the long-term goals where improving matters the most. Short-term goals could be beneficial,…
2019 was an incredibly exciting year for us at BIOLIFE4D – so much so that we wanted to share some of our proudest accomplishments as we head in to 2020! The continued support we have received from our investors, the scientific community, and the general public has been tremendous and has pushed us one step…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time filled with joy and loved ones. In addition to holiday festivities, it’s important to express gratitude and give back to those who need it the most. Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and even surpasses the annual mortality rate of all types of cancer combined….
With holiday festivities just around the corner, it’s important to still be mindful of your heart health and eating habits. We all know how tempting those warm dishes and cookies could be, but certain ingredients should be avoided or consumed in moderation. Whether you’re cooking or attending a party, there are a few things to…
This week, 52 years ago, Dr. Christiaan Barnard successfully performed the first heart donor transplant on Lewis Washkansky, a South African man dying of heart disease. A modern miracle of its time, Dr. Barnard’s successful surgery provided hope to those suffering from this debilitating disease, while also laying the groundwork for future generations of development…
From our team at BIOLIFE4D, we want to wish you (an early) happy and healthy Thanksgiving! The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to catch up with loved ones, feast on your favorite food, and for many, watch football. Above all, it’s an important time to reflect and express gratitude – which is exactly what…
Guest Postby Birney Jimm Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for individuals in the United States, with men being more vulnerable than women, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in every four deaths in the US is attributed to heart disease, which totals to about 610,000 per annum. If…
At BIOLIFE4D, one of the most common questions we get is why the heart? Whether you’re reaching out to us on Facebook or Twitter, or getting in touch with us directly, we’re constantly getting asked – What about a lung? Can we bioprint kidneys? One reason we’re focused on the heart is because, if you’re one of the 3,500-4,000 people…
We’re almost halfway through November and you know what that means – winter is coming! For many people, cold weather tends to hinder motivation and productivity, causing the “winter blues.” If you live in an area that’s prone to a ton of snow, you especially know how stressful winter could be. Research points to a…
November has arrived, and along with changing leaves, colder weather and the holiday season, it’s also Diabetes Awareness Month. November 14th is World Diabetes Day, which draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. You may not realize it, but there is a strong correlation…
Every 30 seconds, someone in the United States dies of a heart disease related event that could have potentially been treated with tissue regeneration or replacement. As the world’s leading killer, heart disease claims a devastating amount of lives each year globally, which is why it’s crucial to educate ourselves and do all that we can to…
At BIOLIFE4D, our ultimate goal is to 3D bioprint a human heart viable for transplant, but as we hit milestones along the way, there are opportunities to apply our results to other critical problems. Take our mini-heart for example. The mini heart was not only the appropriate next step on our way to reaching our full-sized heart,…
With summertime over and colder weather ahead, it’s time to get those healthy heart habits in full swing this fall. While it’s tempting to stay indoors and eat comfort food as the temperature decreases, it’s important you stay active, eat right and avoid any and all risk factors associated with heart disease – including high…
If you’ve been following along, you probably saw that last month we announced our biggest milestone to date – the ability to 3D bioprint our mini-heart. While we’ve made a lot of noise about the accomplishment (and why wouldn’t we!), we also want to showcase our amazing facilities where we were able to achieve this goal…
Our team consists of passionate scientists and medical professionals – each with a plethora of experience. One in particular, is our Chief Science Officer, Dr. Ravi Birla. Birla has been with BIOLIFE4D since 2018 and brings years of experience in the field of cardiac tissue and organ fabrication. Before BIOLIFE4D, Birla was the Associate Director of the…
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that September was a big month for BIOLIFE4D. We re-opened our Regulation A+ equity crowdfunding campaign and then, thanks to the tremendous advancements that were made in our lab – which we’ll get to – we announced that we increased the price per share to $13.50, which represents a…
We are excited to announce that effective today we have modified our Regulation A+ equity crowdfunding offering. As a result of the tremendous advancements we have made in our labs, the price per share will be increasing to $13.50 per share, which represents a 35% increase in share price since our original offering. Last week we…
It’s finally here! If you’ve been following our social media platforms, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve been teasing a BIG announcement come September. Well, the day has finally arrived! We’re excited to announce that BIOLIFE4D has successfully 3D bioprinted a mini-heart, a significant milestone on our way towards our ultimate goal of producing a full-sized human…
We’re extremely excited to announce the launch of our second Regulation A+ equity crowdfunding campaign. Due to popular demand, we have re-opened the opportunity to invest in BIOLIFE4D’s life-saving technology! Since our first equity crowdfunding campaign, we’ve made exceptional progress – including the successful demonstration of 3D bioprinting human tissue, along with heart components like chambers,…
If you couldn’t tell, we’re beyond excited about our big announcement coming this September. While we are on our way to the ultimate goal of 3D bioprinting a human heart for transplant, we figured now is as good a time as any to reflect on our achievements so far and highlight some of our monumental…
If you can’t tell, we’re pretty excited. We have so much to share with you, and we think you’ll be pretty excited about it too. The only problem is we can’t … not yet. But once September is here get ready, because what we have to show you will blow you away. Our team,…
The Science at BIOLIFE4D As you might be aware the scientists at BIOLIFE4D have to work with several different cardiac cell types in bioengineering our cardiac constructs. And each of these separate types of specialized cells must be bioengineered by our science team from a patient’s white blood cells! Here are 6 specialized cell…
It’s the middle of February so we all know what that means – red hearts everywhere to celebrate a special holiday. If you’re thinking about Valentine’s Day, you wouldn’t be wrong. But this week we are recognizing another heart-based campaign – Heart Failure Awareness Week. In 2001 the Heart Failure Society of America, with support…
