A conversation with Associate Faculty member Ellen Roche, Ph.D., about all things heart
By Jessica Leff
There is no Wyss faculty member more qualified to discuss matters of the heart than Ellen Roche, Ph.D., who has been working on developing cardiac devices since she was an undergraduate student. During her Ph.D. work, which was co-advised by Wyss Faculty members David Mooney, Ph.D., and Conor Walsh, Ph.D., she innovated the epicardial delivery of bioagents to the heart, the mechanical assistance of ventricular contraction using a soft robotic sleeve, and a catheter-based device for the repair of tissue defects within the heart.
Roche joined the Wyss as an Associate Faculty member in 2023 and is also the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She directs the Therapeutic Technology Design and Development Lab.
Currently, her work focuses on developing medical devices, primarily to repair or augment cardiac function. She and her lab members design and manufacture these devices and test them. They build simulators, both physical and computational, to evaluate how their innovations would interact biomechanically with a patient.
We sat down with Roche to discuss everything heart-related, both literally and metaphorically.
When and how did you fall in love with biomedical engineering and doing research?
I chose to major in biomedical engineering when I was 17. From the moment I started, I knew I loved it, and my passion for research continued to grow throughout my degree and industry experience. I knew I wanted to do further research, so I pursued a master’s and then a Ph.D., which built on the work I did in industry. I can’t imagine doing anything else now, and I love working at the intersection of academia and industry to try to advance new technology along the clinical path.
What got you interested in developing medical devices for heart-related conditions?
While I was an undergraduate student, I interned in the medical technology industry. I worked on a carotid artery filter to capture plaque that might be dislodged when the vessel is opened up. That really hooked me and got me started in cardiac devices.
What heart-related projects is your lab currently working on?
We are developing a simulator of the left atrium and left atrial appendage to enable high-fidelity testing and development of left atrial appendage occlusion devices and help prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. We’ve also developed a robotic replica of the heart’s right ventricle, which can be used to study right ventricle disorders and test devices and therapeutics.
We’re working on a simulation of aortic valve stenosis, which is the most common valvular heart disease in developed countries. Our computational model is an ideal complementary tool for personalized, accurate modeling of aortic stenosis biomechanics, hemodynamics, and treatment planning. We are also developing a sutureless, soft robotic device to deliver drugs to the epicardial surface of the heart in response to electrocardiogram sensing. This has the potential to fundamentally change therapy delivery in clinical applications.
Plus, we’re working on an active surgical cuff for congenital heart defects and a myoneural actuator.
You’ve received numerous awards for mentoring students, proving you have a heart of gold. Why are you passionate about mentorship, and what advice do you give your trainees?
There is nothing better than seeing somebody develop as a scientist or engineer and being on that journey with them.
There is nothing better than seeing somebody develop as a scientist or engineer and being on that journey with them. I’m not sure there is one piece of advice I give all my trainees, as I try to tailor it to their unique needs/stages. But honestly, I learn as much from them as they do from me.
What are some of your favorite heart-themed gifts you’ve received?
I have heart-themed plant holders, earrings, a heart of gold, heart puzzles, and a light-up paperweight.
What places have you lived in or visited that you’ve left your heart in?
My home in Ireland will always hold a special place in my heart, but I traveled to every continent in an “around-the-world trip” after college, and my favorite places were Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the South Island in New Zealand.
What people hold a special place in your heart?
My daughters and husband, my family, my group both past and present, my friends, and the many mentors who have helped me get here.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.