The heart tissue was obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells. It can be used for drug tests on cardiotoxicity, but also for basic or applied research with a view to replace animal experiments and animal hearts or heart tissue.

The in vitro method is standardised and can also be used by other scientists.
 
The prize for 2018 was 20,000 euros. It is awarded every two years and is increased to 50,000 euros for 2020.

Publication of the laureate: Lemme, M., Ulmer, B. M., Lemoine, M. D., Zech, A. T. L., Flenner, F., Ravens, U.., Reichenspurner, H., Rol-Garcia, M., Smith, G., Hansen, A., Christ, T. & Eschenhagen, T. (2018). Atrial-like Engineered Heart Tissue: An In Vitro Model of the Human Atrium. Stem Cell Reports 11/6: 1378-1390. https://www.cell.com/

Further information:
https://fis-uke.de/portal/de/organisations/institut-fur-experimentelle-pharmakologie-und-toxikologie(c7f2aed1-6fa4-4fd2-8ed7-b15995f8065a).html

Source:
https://www.hamburg.de/pressearchiv-fhh/12063136/2019-01-14-verleihung-des-2-hamburger-forschungspreises-fuer-alternativen-zum-tierversuch-/