text: Even with current technologies, hECT structure and function is more at the level of newborn heart muscle than adult myocardium. Nonetheless, important advances have led to the generation of hECT patches for myocardial repair in animal models and use for in vitro models of drug screening. hECTs can also be used to experimentally model CVD using genetic manipulation and adenoviral-mediated gene transfer. In animal models of myocardial infarction (MI), hECT injection into the hearts of rats and mice reduces infarct size and improves heart function and contractility. As a proof of principle, grafts of engineered heart tissues have been implanted in rats following MI with beneficial effects on left ventricular function. The use of hECTs in generating tissue engineered heart valves is also being explored to improve current heart valve constructs for in vivo animal studies.  As tissue engineering technology advances to overcome current limitations, hECTs are a promising avenue for experimental drug discovery, screening and disease modelling and in vivo repair.