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Gad Heilwell

Bio: Gad Heilwell is an academic researcher from University of California, Los Angeles. The author has contributed to research in topics: Macular degeneration & Retinal pigment epithelium. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 2138 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first description of hESC-derived cells transplanted into human patients with Stargardt's macular dystrophy and dry age-related macular degeneration is provided, with no signs of hyperproliferation, tumorigenicity, ectopic tissue formation, or apparent rejection after 4 months.

1,319 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For transplantation of hESC-derived retinal pigment epithelium derived from human embryonic stem cells to be used in combination with pharmacological approaches that target the mechanisms underlying retinal degeneration associated with Stargardt’s disease and AMD-GA, it is suggested that this model should be used.

5 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
12 Jun 2014-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that hESC-CMs can be produced at a clinical scale (more than one billion cells per batch) and cryopreserved with good viability and can remuscularize substantial amounts of the infarcted monkey heart.
Abstract: Pluripotent stem cells provide a potential solution to current epidemic rates of heart failure by providing human cardiomyocytes to support heart regeneration. Studies of human embryonic-stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) in small-animal models have shown favourable effects of this treatment. However, it remains unknown whether clinical-scale hESC-CM transplantation is feasible, safe or can provide sufficient myocardial regeneration. Here we show that hESC-CMs can be produced at a clinical scale (more than one billion cells per batch) and cryopreserved with good viability. Using a non-human primate model of myocardial ischaemia followed by reperfusion, we show that cryopreservation and intra-myocardial delivery of one billion hESC-CMs generates extensive remuscularization of the infarcted heart. The hESC-CMs showed progressive but incomplete maturation over a 3-month period. Grafts were perfused by host vasculature, and electromechanical junctions between graft and host myocytes were present within 2 weeks of engraftment. Importantly, grafts showed regular calcium transients that were synchronized to the host electrocardiogram, indicating electromechanical coupling. In contrast to small-animal models, non-fatal ventricular arrhythmias were observed in hESC-CM-engrafted primates. Thus, hESC-CMs can remuscularize substantial amounts of the infarcted monkey heart. Comparable remuscularization of a human heart should be possible, but potential arrhythmic complications need to be overcome.

1,177 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Clinical investigations using stem cell products in regenerative medicine are addressing a wide spectrum of conditions using a variety of stem cell types and applications are progressing in trials, some with early benefits to patients.

1,040 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: At 1 year after surgery, the transplanted sheet of retinal pigment epithelial cells remained intact, best corrected visual acuity had not improved or worsened, and cystoid macular edema was present.
Abstract: We assessed the feasibility of transplanting a sheet of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a patient with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The iPSCs were generated from skin fibroblasts obtained from two patients with advanced neovascular age-related macular degeneration and were differentiated into RPE cells. The RPE cells and the iPSCs from which they were derived were subject to extensive testing. A surgery that included the removal of the neovascular membrane and transplantation of the autologous iPSC-derived RPE cell sheet under the retina was performed in one of the patients. At 1 year after surgery, the transplanted sheet remained intact, best corrected visual acuity had not improved or worsened, and cystoid macular edema was present. (Funded by Highway Program for Realization of Regenerative Medicine and others; University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry [UMIN-CTR] number, UMIN000011929.)

1,023 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A wide variety of possibilities makes this cutting edge therapy a turning point in modern medicine, providing hope for untreatable diseases and challenges that stem cell therapy must overcome to be accepted worldwide.
Abstract: In recent years, stem cell therapy has become a very promising and advanced scientific research topic. The development of treatment methods has evoked great expectations. This paper is a review focused on the discovery of different stem cells and the potential therapies based on these cells. The genesis of stem cells is followed by laboratory steps of controlled stem cell culturing and derivation. Quality control and teratoma formation assays are important procedures in assessing the properties of the stem cells tested. Derivation methods and the utilization of culturing media are crucial to set proper environmental conditions for controlled differentiation. Among many types of stem tissue applications, the use of graphene scaffolds and the potential of extracellular vesicle-based therapies require attention due to their versatility. The review is summarized by challenges that stem cell therapy must overcome to be accepted worldwide. A wide variety of possibilities makes this cutting edge therapy a turning point in modern medicine, providing hope for untreatable diseases.

714 citations