In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf welcomes guest Dr. Timothy Nelson ("Tim") for part one of their three-part series. Charlie and Tim talk about the inspiring journey of establishing HeartWorks, a non-profit organization aiming to revolutionize the treatment of and cure congenital heart disease (CHD). Dr. Timothy Nelson, the Founder and CEO of HeartWorks, details the collaborative network created with eleven pediatric hospitals to combat the rarity and complexity of CHD. This network operates on a groundbreaking hybrid model that mixes non-profit philanthropy with for-profit commercial ventures for financial sustainability.

With a focus on a "Team of Teams" approach encompassing basic researchers, manufacturing, clinical trials, and marketing teams, HeartWorks embraces internal tension as a catalyst for innovative solutions. Tim stresses the importance of keeping the true purpose — curing CHD and enriching the lives of affected children and adults — at the heart of the organization's mission and vision.

The conversation further explores Tim's personal connection to the cause, rooted in his upbringing in Wisconsin, and a transformative experience following a successful heart surgery that led him to a career in stem cell research and cardiology.

After securing a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for this groundbreaking technology that converts a patient's skin cells into functioning heart tissue, Tim envisions broad applications, including treating patients with congenital heart defects.

This ultimately led to discussions with the Wanek family and the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Nelson also highlights the Wanek family's role as major benefactors of the hypoplastic left heart syndrome program at Mayo Clinic through the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Tim discusses the purpose behind the creation of ReGen Theranostics, a for-profit company started in 2010 aimed at commercializing and manufacturing this game-changing technology.

With ReGen becoming the world's largest stem cell repository and laying the foundation for HeartWorks, Tim's story and the HeartWorks story is a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and persistent dedication.

Tim shares his personal background including his early influence and mentorship from his grandfather Noble Kleven, the former sheriff of Trempeauleau County. And he discusses the benefits of working closely with his best friend and older brother Matt Nelson, who serves as the President and oversees operations for HeartWorks and ReGen Theranostics.

Come back for the second part of this conversation on Tuesday!

Additional Resources:

HeartWorks - www.webuildhearts.org

ReGen Theranostics, Inc. - https://regentheranostics.com

Shinya Yamanaka - https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/10/104393/shinya-yamanaka-wins-2012-nobel-prize-medicine

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vIJAImWjRRw

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.