In this episode Dr. Michael Roizen speaks with Dr. Omid Veiseh, a bioengineering professor at Rice University, about his innovative work in stem cell therapies and biomaterials for medical applications. Dr. Omid Veiseh is a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research, with a dual Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering and Nanotechnology from the University of Washington. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds 20 patents, several of which have been licensed by biotechnology companies.

Key Points:

The episode provides an in-depth look at how Omid Veiseh's shielded stem cell technology is paving the way for innovative treatments in heart disease, wound healing, and diabetes. These advances could significantly improve patient outcomes in the near future.

• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs): Veiseh explains the role of MSCs, which are adult stem cells that secrete healing factors, helping to regenerate tissues, reduce inflammation, and improve recovery in various medical contexts.
• Shielded Stem Cells: His team developed a hydrogel mesh that shields MSCs from immune system rejection while allowing healing factors to diffuse, enabling the use of donor stem cells (allogeneic) rather than patient-derived cells.
• Applications in Heart Attack Recovery: Veiseh discusses the success of using shielded stem cells to regenerate heart tissue after a myocardial infarction (heart attack), reducing damage and promoting healing.
• Versatility of Shielding Technology: The shielding technology has been applied to wound healing and diabetes, where it enables long-term function of insulin-producing cells without immune rejection.
• Future Outlook: Dr. Veiseh emphasizes the potential of cell-based therapies to revolutionize treatments for chronic illnesses, while his lab continues to optimize the effectiveness and longevity of these technologies.