In this final installment of the HeartWorks story on the Stories from the River, host Charlie Maloof and guest Dr. Timothy Nelson discuss the innovative strides being made in the field of cardiac tissue engineering and the courage to imagine massive, transformative long-term solutions leveraging the HeartWorks platform technology.

Dr. Nelson explains that the HeartWorks process of taking your cells to make stem cells that can make any cell type in your body from the starting material that they call IPS cells is a platform technology where any cell type in your body could be manufactured from IPS cells that are made in the lab. Dr. Nelson goes on to explain how the platform technology could be extended to other organ replacement type of therapies.

Focusing on their long-term initiatives, Dr. Nelson talks about the academic labs working to push boundaries with projects like 3D printing hearts, while his own organization, HeartWorks, zeroes in on congenital heart disease. The pride is palpable as Dr. Nelson shares the hope they impart to affected families and the successes of gaining trust from institutions such as the FDA. This confidence allows them to both think long term and to move at the necessary pace to make meaningful progress, as underscored by recent FDA approvals and the permission to proceed with clinical trials.

Dr. Nelson optimistically looks ahead to the next several years, discussing the liberating journey of overcoming hurdles and achieving milestones. His vision encompasses an industry that goes beyond reactive treatment, advocating for a world equipped with predictive algorithms and proactive interventions through newly developed cells and replacement body parts.

Dr. Nelson underlines the potential for expanding the current capacity for heart transplants beyond the limitations of today's system, through his team's pioneering platform technology that leverages stem cells to engineer any cell type in the human body, especially heart muscle cells. He addresses the stark contrast between the small number of heart transplants executed annually and the overwhelming demand from patients in need.

Nelson's ambition doesn't stop at the heart; he envisions regenerating various organs like the liver, kidneys, and lungs, shaping a future where peripheral vascular disease treatment and other organ replacements become a reality.

The episode wraps up with an articulate exposition of the proactive role HeartWorks intends to play, using data donation platforms and an understanding of family history and genetics. This holistic approach not only aims to treat but also to anticipate and prevent health issues, thereby reimagining the landscape of healthcare and patient well-being.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JNZ_2iQqSf8

Listen to part one of the HeartWorks conversation here: https://youtu.be/vIJAImWjRRw

Listen to part two of the HeartWorks conversation here: https://youtu.be/Ea1C-msQk_k

HeartWorks - https://www.webuildhearts.org

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