Smiling baby wearing a blue onesie with a HeartWorks logo.

HeartWorks accelerates the best ideas to cure CHD for the 1 in 100 born with it and the 2.4 million living with it.

Inspired By Families

Making More Memories

Our work is more than just medical innovation; it’s about making a meaningful difference in the heart community.

By advancing cutting-edge treatments and providing vital support, HeartWorks helps create lasting memories and enhance the quality of life for those affected by congenital heart defects.

  • Adult with congenital heart defect posing on top of mountain

    "Janee’s Heart Journey"

    Overcoming Ebstein's Anomaly: A Journey of Resilience and Medical Breakthroughs

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  • "Rockford’s Heart Journey"

    Rockford's Journey of Hope and Healing

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  • "Lauren’s Heart Journey"

    Living with Half a Heart: Lauren’s Journey of Resilience, Advocacy, and Joy

    Read Full Story
  • A young child with congenital heart disease.

    "Cora’s Heart Journey"

    Cora's Courageous Journey: Overcoming Complex Heart Surgeries

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  • "Luke’s Heart Journey"

    Luke's Journey: From Heart Surgery at 4 Months to a Thriving, Energetic Life on the Farm

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  • "Frankie’s Heart Journey"

    Inspiring Resilience: Frankie's Journey with HLHS

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  • "Meagan’s Heart Journey"

    Meagan's Journey: Overcoming HLHS and Embracing a Fulfilling Life

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  • "Vivien’s Heart Journey"

    From a Complex Diagnosis in Germany to a Full Life Near Barcelona

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  • "He loves to make us laugh."

    My very favorite thing about Griffin is how silly he is.

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  • "It was a bittersweet day and such a huge milestone."

    One of our favorite memories this year was her first day of kindergarten!

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  • "His giant blue eyes got even bigger somehow."

    One of my favorite memories with Levi was the very first time they put him in his tumble form chair.

    Read Full Story
  • marshyl

    "Marshyl is all boy and loves anything and everything that involves dirt, cars, trucks, and tractors."

    One of my favorite memories was when we got Marshyl his gator for his birthday.

    Read Full Story
  • "Abby was given a terrific boost of confidence from her classmates."

    My favorite memory of Abby after heart surgery was watching her mall walk for exercise one week after surgery.

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  • "Her smile can light up a room and her laughter is contagious."

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  • "This non-profit is the only way I know how to make a difference."

    Evit’s heart defect is considered one of 
the most severe. but he’s here fighting.

  • "This community is stronger together, always remember you can do hard things!"

    This community is stronger together [and we] can do hard things!

HeartWorks | We Build Hearts

At HeartWorks, we develop therapies that use a person’s cells to enhance their existing heart muscle or grow new beating heart muscle.

HeartWorks has designed a first-of-its-kind platform that brings together physicians, scientists, and engineers to find and develop treatments for the most severe forms of CHD. Therefore, advancing the research in genetics, stem cell biology, clinical trials, and cell-based manufacturing.

The manufacturing team at HeartWorks posing in the research lab.

Pioneering Approach

HeartWorks has the brightest minds building hearts to cure CHD. We operate independently and work collaboratively allowing us to move the best ideas forward efficiently and effectively.

The HeartWorks Team of Teams is driven by the urgent needs of CHD families and is relentlessly pursuing transformative outcomes. We’re undaunted by challenges, dedicated to creating a self-reliant ecosystem, and united by our shared mission to conquer congenital heart defects.

The HeartWorks Story

HeartWorks is a 501(c)(3) organization established in June 2020 to further the product development initiated by the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), which was founded at the Mayo Clinic in 2010.

Our vision

Our vision is to transform our therapies into a cure, so that children and adults born with congenital heart disease (CHD) no longer have to live with its challenges.

Our Impact

HeartWorks is the only clinical platform accelerating the best ideas to cure CHD.

3,500
Donors
11
Institutions
71
on-site core team members
2,700
Research Patients
9
Family Board Members
28
PhD Research Collaborators
HeartWorks developed contracting heart muscle

Clinical Trials and The Co-op at HeartWorks

Our therapies utilize a person’s own cells to strengthen their existing heart muscle or generate new beating heart tissue.

For instance, our manufacturing team is actively processing skin samples and converting them into beating cardiac cells for future therapeutic applications.

Explore our clinical trials and contribute to the development of new ones by becoming a member of The Co-op at HeartWorks.

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