University of California, Irvine Student Engineering Team to Advance Next-Generation Implantable Regenerative Platform (April–December 2026)
Irvine, CA — April 25th 2026 — Lionheart Health, Inc., a leader in bioelectric regenerative medicine and healthspan optimization, today announced that its flagship platform, the Lionheart Octopus™, has been selected as a Capstone Engineering Award Project by the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
As part of this award, a multidisciplinary UCI engineering team will work from April through December 2026 to design and develop a functional prototype of the Lionheart Octopus™ system for preclinical testing and future clinical translation.
A New Category: Implantable Total Regeneration Platform
The Lionheart Octopus™ is an implantable, under-the-skin infusion and bioelectric stimulation system designed to enable coordinated, multi-organ regenerative therapy.
At its core, the system integrates:
- Refillable infusion pump
- Bioelectric stimulation network
- Software-controlled signaling platform
The infusion component is designed to deliver genetically modified Klotho-expressing stem cells suspended in a nutrient hydrogel, while the bioelectric system provides targeted stimulation to specific organs.
Together, these technologies aim to:
- Enhance stem cell homing to target tissues
- Support controlled proliferation and differentiation
- Modulate inflammation and tissue repair pathways
- Enable on-demand release of regenerative proteins
Brian Lasater, Chief Technology Officer of Lionheart Health, Inc., added:
“The Lionheart Octopus™ represents a convergence of bioelectric engineering, advanced biomaterials, and software-controlled regenerative biology. Our focus is on building a platform capable of precisely coordinating cell delivery and bioelectric signaling across multiple organ systems. The UCI Capstone team will play a key role in advancing the system architecture, fluidics, and control layers needed to translate this concept into a scalable, clinically viable technology.”
Toward Multi-Organ Regeneration
The Lionheart Octopus™ platform is being developed to address age-related and degenerative decline across multiple organ systems, including:
- Heart
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Lungs
- Brain
- Skin
- Eyes
- Joints
- Hearing systems
The goal is to create a coordinated regenerative environment across the body, rather than treating individual organs in isolation. Like returning to the womb where we were built in the first place.
UCI Capstone Collaboration
The UCI Capstone Engineering Program provides real-world innovation opportunities for top engineering students to work alongside industry leaders.
The selected Lionheart Octopus™ project will include:
- System architecture design
- Implantable device engineering
- Fluidics and pump optimization
- Bioelectric organ interface development
- Software and control systems
- Integration with the LionheartAI app for healthspan longevity.
The program culminates in a working prototype ready for large animal studies and technical validation package by December 2026.
Leadership Commentary
Howard J. Leonhardt, Executive Chairman & Co-CEO of Lionheart Health, Inc., stated:
“We are honored that the University of California, Irvine has selected the Lionheart Octopus™ as a Capstone Award project. This collaboration accelerates development of a platform we believe could redefine how regenerative medicine is delivered—moving from isolated treatments to coordinated, multi-organ restoration strategies.”
Development Pathway
The Lionheart Octopus™ program is part of Lionheart Health’s broader pipeline of:
- Bioelectric stimulation technologies
- Regenerative biologics platforms
- Healthspan-focused clinical programs
Following the Capstone phase, the company plans to advance:
- Preclinical large-animal studies
- Safety and feasibility evaluations
- Regulatory pathway planning for human trials
About Lionheart Health, Inc.
Lionheart Health, Inc. is a bioelectric regenerative medicine company focused on extending human healthspan through integrated technologies that combine:
- Bioelectric signaling
- Regenerative biologics
- Personalized health optimization
The company holds rights to 700+ patent claims and has generated clinical and observational data across 1,000+ patients in multiple therapeutic areas.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development and potential capabilities of the Lionheart Octopus™ system. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including the need for further research, preclinical validation, regulatory approvals, and clinical trials. No claims are made regarding safety or efficacy until such evaluations are completed.