Phase I Treatment of Urethral Strictures in Humans
When a scar, or stricture, forms along the urethra it impedes the flow of urine and causes other complications. James Yoo, M.D., Ph.D., and his team at Wake Forest University…
Pluripotent stem cell-derived bladder epithelial progenitors for definitive cell replacement therapy of bladder cancer
Research Objective We will 1) identify non-invasive bladder cancer patients with (pre)cancerous urothelium by single-cell RNA-seq and 2) replace this dangerous lesion with normal hESC-derived bladder progenitors. Impact Replacement of…
Curing bladder cancer by replacing corrupted urothelium with differentiated hES cells
Research Objective The goal of the proposed research is to use human embryonic stem cells to generate bladder epithelial progenitor cells that can be used to replace a cancerous bladder…
Autologous iPSC-based therapy for radiation induced bladder injury
Research Objective To explore if iPSC-based therapy can prevent bladder damage due to radiation therapy, thereby limiting the unintended consequences of treatments for prostate, gynecologic and colorectal cancers. Impact This…
Autologous iPSC-derived smooth muscle cell therapy for treatment of urinary incontinence
Translational Candidate Smooth muscle cell progenitors (pSMCs) differentiated from patient iPSCs which is injected into the urethral muscle to regenerate a a weak urethra. Area of Impact Surgery for urinary…
Phase I Treatment of Urethral Strictures in Humans
Therapeutic Candidate or Device An engineered urethral segment comprised of autologous urothelial, smooth muscle cells, and progenitor cells within a tubular scaffold. Indication Autologous engineered urethral constructs are for the…
