RESEARCH

Advancing Cardiovascular Treatment with Cutting-Edge Stem Cell Technology

Our primary focus is to harness the groundbreaking potential of stem cell technology, aiming to radically transform the approach to treating various cardiovascular diseases.

At the Forefront of Stem Cell Research for Heart and Vascular Health

By developing innovative stem cell-based therapies, we aim to fundamentally change the treatment of heart diseases, offering new, effective solutions for a range of cardiovascular conditions. Our work is not just about research; it’s about leading a healthcare revolution, where advanced science meets hope, and where each discovery brings us closer to saving and improving countless lives.

Pluripotent Stem Cells:

  • Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells
  • Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells

Adult Stem Cells:

  • Endothelial Stem Cells
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Bone Marrow-Derived Multipotent Stem Cells (BMSC)
  • CD31+ Cells
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Innovating with In Vitro Differentiation:

Our research includes investigating the in vitro differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and lymphatic vessels, exploring their therapeutic potential in targeted diseases.

Pioneering Biomaterial-Combined Stem Cell Therapy:

Integrating biomaterial technologies with stem cell applications for enhanced cardiac repair.

Our Mechanistic Interests:

We are deeply interested in understanding and influencing the mechanisms of angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and cardiomyogenesis. This mechanistic insight is crucial for developing effective stem cell-based interventions for cardiovascular diseases.

Targeting Key Cardiovascular Diseases:

  • Heart conditions such as myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure.
  • Peripheral vascular diseases, including PAOD (peripheral artery obstructive disease).
  • Diabetic neuropathy, lymphedema, and wound healing.

Exploring Angiogenesis and Stem Cell Dynamics in Diabetes

Our studies also explore the role of angiogenesis in diabetic complications and investigate functional defects in stem or progenitor cells in diabetes, developing strategies to counteract these impairments.

Angiogenesis in Diabetic Complications:

Our team is dedicated to understanding the role of angiogenesis in complications arising from diabetes, such as heart failure, peripheral artery obstructive disease (PAOD), and diabetic neuropathy. This research is crucial for developing targeted treatments to mitigate these severe complications.

Investigating Stem Cell Function in Diabetes:

We are delving into the functional defects of stem and progenitor cells in the diabetic environment. By studying the interaction and performance of these cells under diabetic conditions, we aim to uncover new insights into disease progression and potential therapeutic avenues.

Targeting ROS-Related Mechanisms:

Our current focus includes the study of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-related targets, which play a significant role in cellular damage and disease mechanisms in diabetes.

Developing Therapeutic Strategies:

In response to these findings, our team is actively engaged in formulating strategies to rescue and repair the impairment caused by diabetes in stem cell functionality. This approach is aimed at devising novel therapeutic interventions to enhance cellular repair and regeneration in diabetic patients.

Research Milestones:

  • First demonstration of successful gene therapy with VEGF-C for treating secondary lymphedema (Yoon et al., J Clin Invest,2003)
  • Unveiling the role of VEGF and EPCs in diabetic cardiomyopathy (Circulation, 2005).
  • First demonstration of side effects (calcification) of infarcted myocardium treated with unfractionated bone marrow cells (Yoon et al., Circulation, 2004)
  • Development of novel bone marrow-derived stem cells and demonstration of successful therapeutic effects in myocardial infarction (Yoon et al., J Clin Invest, 2005)
  • Investigating the role of host cells in adult stem cell therapy (J Exp Med, 2007).
  • First demonstration of bone marrow-derived EPCs engraft diabetic nerves and improve nerve function in diabetic neuropathy. First demonstration of robust long-term (more than 12 weeks) of adult progenitor cells in diabetic tissues(Jeong et al., Circulation, 2009)
  • First demonstration that CD31+ cells derived from bone marrow and peripheral blood have robust neovascularization effects and highly effective for treating cardiovascular disease (Kim et al., J Am Coll Cardiol, 2010; Kim et al., Circ Res, 2010)