Cardiac stem cell therapy among Clinics of Uncertain Regulatory Status (COURS): under-regulated, under-observed, incompletely understood

The role and medical prospects of long non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has reached epidemic proportions and is a leading cause of death worldwide. One of the long-standing goals of scientists is to repair heart tissue damaged by various forms of CVD such as cardiac hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, heart fibrosis, and genetic and developmental heart defects such as heart valve deformities. Damaged or defective heart tissue has limited regenerative capacity and results in a loss of functioning myocardium. Advances in transcriptomic profiling technology have revealed that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is transcribed from what was once considered "junk DNA." It has since been discovered that lncRNAs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of various CVDs and in myocardial regeneration. This review will explore how lncRNAs impact various forms of CVD as well as those involved in cardiomyocyte regeneration. Further, we discuss the potential of lncRNAs as a therapeutic modality for treating CVD.

Development of a student-driven undergraduate program in regenerative medicine

As it begins to enter the clinic, regenerative medicine has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. Although there exists a growing need for individuals well-versed in the practice of regenerative medicine, few undergraduate institutions offer opportunities to learn about the topic. This article highlights the conception of two novel undergraduate courses in regenerative medicine developed through collaboration between students and faculty at our University to fill this void in the undergraduate curriculum. Lectures from scientists, healthcare professionals, regulatory experts and biotechnology leaders introduced students to regenerative medicine research and the translational process, and a certificate program incorporating relevant coursework and research experience is in development. This pipeline will guide promising undergraduate students to the field of regenerative medicine.

Stem Cell Therapy: From Idea to Clinical Practice

Regenerative medicine is a new and promising mode of therapy for patients who have limited or no other options for the treatment of their illness. Due to their pleotropic therapeutic potential through the inhibition of inflammation or apoptosis, cell recruitment, stimulation of angiogenesis, and differentiation, stem cells present a novel and effective approach to several challenging human diseases. In recent years, encouraging findings in preclinical studies have paved the way for many clinical trials using stem cells for the treatment of various diseases. The translation of these new therapeutic products from the laboratory to the market is conducted under highly defined regulations and directives provided by competent regulatory authorities. This review seeks to familiarize the reader with the process of translation from an idea to clinical practice, in the context of stem cell products. We address some required guidelines for clinical trial approval, including regulations and directives presented by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, as well as those of the European Medicine Agency (EMA). Moreover, we review, summarize, and discuss regenerative medicine clinical trial studies registered on the Clinicaltrials.gov website.