Cell Therapy: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

This book provides an overview of cell-based therapy for human diseases including the definition, history, and clinical applications of human stem cells and their use in regenerative medicine. It covers human pluripotent stem cells (human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells), mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, and hematopoietic stem cells, bone marrow mononuclear cells. In terms of clinical applications, this book also provides an update on recent human trials using these cells to treat various diseases, including neurological disorders, pulmonary dysfunctions, metabolic/endocrine-related diseases, frailty, and cancer treatment. In addition, it discusses the authors’ clinical trial experiences related to these conditions in a clinical setting to provide additional insight into regenerative medicine, especially cell-based therapy. The field of regenerative medicine has witnessed tremendous advancement in stem cell research and therapy in recent years, with thousands of preclinical studies supporting thousands of human clinical trials conducted worldwide. Emerging evidence in regenerative medicine and stem cell research suggests the treatments are safe, whereas their therapeutic potential, effectiveness, and mode of action require deeper investigation. It is important to introduce the science behind stem cell-based therapy to patients, clinicians, and researchers to further enhance understanding of responsible clinical conduct and so to educate and thus prevent the further emergence of unregulated, deceitful stem cell clinics solely operating for the sake of profit. 

Liem Nguyen Thanh  

Prof. Liem Nguyen Thanh is an innovator in pediatric endoscopic surgery and stem cell transplantation. He is a pioneer in application of stem cell therapy for unmet diseases in children such as cerebral palsy, autism, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, biliary atresia...He was Director of Vietnam National Children Hospital from 2002 to 2012. Currently, Prof. Liem is Director of Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology and President of Vietnam Association of regenerative medicine and cell therapy. He has published 127 studies in international reviewed journals. He is the co-author of Operative Pediatric Surgery, Ashcraft’s Pediatric Surgery, and Pediatric Laparoscopic and Thoracospoc Surgery. He has been invited to give lectures on pediatric surgery and stem cell applications in the US, Europe, and Asia. He has been honored with many prestige national awards. In 2018, he was awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize in the Science and Technology category and was categorized in the top 100 scientists in Asia by the Singapore journal in 2019. 

Nicholas Forsyth 

Nick joined Aberdeen University in 2023 as Vice Principal (Research). Included in this role are development and implementation of coherent research strategies at School and University levels. His personal research interests span fundamental stem and somatic cell biology through to applied tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. He has particular expertise in delineating the role of physiological oxygen on cell biology, tendon, and respiratory systems. 

Nick studied Molecular Biology at Glasgow University before undertaking a PhD Molecular Genetics (at the CRUK Beatson Institute). After his PhD studies he performed his first postdoctoral studies at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, TX, USA. He then moved back to the UK and joined the Roslin Institute, Edinburgh completing his training. In 2006 Nick joined Keele University as a Lecturer in Stem Cell Biology before being awarded his Chair in 2015. In 2016, as Professor of Stem Cell Biology he was appointed as Director of the Research Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine. Nick was appointed as Dean of Research in the Faculty of Medicine in 2019 before moving to Aberdeen in 2023.  

Michael Heke 

Dr. Heke started his career in pharmaceutical research (Bayer). He works in stem cell research since 2001. In 2006 he instituted a seminal clinical trial for SC therapy in heart failure (University Medical School Düsseldorf). In 2010, he became head of Department of Knowledge Management (University of Cologne) and was Scientific Coordinator for large-scale EU-Projects. He co-founded the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN), appointed by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). In 2013, he rejoined Rockefeller University to co-lead its Department of Stem Cell Biology. In 2016, he was appointed Deputy to the President of Stanford University, managing the Bing Presidential Laboratory (Biology Department). He serves as Senior Advisor at Vinmec Research Institute for Stem Cell & Gene Technology (Hanoi), since 2017. Currently, he is the Crowley Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics’ CSO (Rochester) focusing on clinical translation of stem cell research in regenerative medicine and aesthetics.