Therapeutic/Technology: Personalized cell therapy
iPSC-Derived Smooth Muscle Progenitors for Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Research Objective To assess the therapeutic effect of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived smooth muscle progenitors (pSMCs) for treatment of abominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Impact Currently, there are no pharmacologic therapies for AAA. If successful, delivery of autologous pSMCs to the site of AAA will halt or reverse the progression towards a rupture-prone aneurysm. […]
Development of treatments to improve healing of ischemic wounds
Research Objective We aim to develop an angiogenic proteoglycan mimic that will protect tissue from rapid degradation, and in conjunction with EPCs promote angiogenesis in order to accelerate ischemic wound healing. Impact As a treatment, LXW7-DS-SILY combined with a collagen scaffold and EPCs will accelerate healing of ischemic diabetic foot ulcers and reduce limb amputation […]
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 therapy impacts cancer survivors by preventing the permanent debilitating urinary symptoms due to radiation therapy. Currently there are no therapies to prevent radiation bladder damage. […]
Development of Autologous Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: Path to Personalized Treatment
Translational Candidate autologous iPSC-derived dopaminergic progenitor cells Area of Impact Parkinson's Disease Mechanism of Action Autologous iPSC-derived dopaminergic progenitor cells represent a promising strategy to replace the nigrostriatal cells which are lost in Parkinson's Disease (PD). While approaches using fetal tissue / allogeneic stem cells show great promise, they are not sufficiently personalized to provide […]
Enhanced Autologous Pancreatic Islet Transplantation and Survival for Diabetes Mellitus Therapy
Translational Candidate 'Pseudoislets' derive from human islets, but compared to islets have superior survival, function, and diabetes reversal after transplantation. Area of Impact Pseudoislets could transform islet replacement strategies in diabetes by increasing the number and durable function of transplanted islet cells. Mechanism of Action Transplantation of replacement human islet cells is approved in type […]
BCMA/CS1 Bispecific CAR-T Cell Therapy to Prevent Antigen Escape in Multiple Myeloma
Translational Candidate A single-chain bispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting BCMA and CS1 will be used to in autologous T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Area of Impact Translational candidate will enable treatment of patients with heterogeneous or BCMA– multiple myeloma and prevent cancer relapse due to antigen loss. Mechanism of Action BCMA and CS1 are […]
Clinical Translation of Autologous Regenerative Cell Therapy for Blindness
Translational Candidate We are studying autologous induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (AiPSC-RPE) cells for the treatment of maculopathies. Area of Impact Maculopathies (including AMD, SMD, & MMD) may be treated with AiPSC-RPE cells to replace RPE and support photoreceptors to improve vision. Mechanism of Action AiPSC-RPE cells replace RPE lost to disease, and […]
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 incontinence is effective in 80% of patients. Our target is those who failed surgery (20%), or those who cannot undergo surgery. Mechanism of Action Our […]
An autologous somatic stem cell therapy for the treatment of osteonecrosis
Translational Candidate An autologous somatic stem cell therapy for the treatment of osteonecrosis. Area of Impact Osteonecrosis is a painful, progressive disease for which there is no treatment, save replacing the dead bone with a metal implant. Mechanism of Action Autografts contain skeletal stem cells. In young patients, these stem cells differentiate and give rise […]
Personalized Cell Therapy for Diabetes
Translational Candidate Preclinical studies will develop patient specific stem cell-derived islets that secrete insulin & other islet hormones for regulation of blood sugar Area of Impact Genetically matched stem cell derived islets could provide treatment for diabetes without the need for immunosuppression or implantable devices. Mechanism of Action The stem cell-derived islets contain insulin-producing pancreatic […]