Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine
Phone 713.500.3429; Fax 713.500.2424
Brian R. Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director
Nathalie Brouard, Ph.D., Instructor
Qi Lin Cao, MD., Associate Professor
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD., Professor
Dong H. Kim, MD., Professor
Mikhail G. Kolonin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Yong Li, MD, PhD., Associate Professor
Ying Liu, MD., PhD., Assistant Professor
Nami McCarty, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Naoki Nakayama,Ph.D., Associate Professor
Pamela L. Wenzel, PhD., Assistant Professor
Jiaqian Wu, PhD., Assistant Professor
About the Center
A major focus of contemporary medicine is the development of effective therapies for the restoration of human tissues and organs lost to diseases and trauma. Regenerative Medicine is a rapidly emerging field that stands at the intersection of a variety of rapidly developing scientific disciplines: stem cell biology, tissue engineering, biomaterials, molecular biology, immunology and transplantation biology and clinical research. Implicit in the successful design, implementation and application of regenerative medicine/tissue engineering approaches to the repair of a damaged tissue or organ is the reliance on the unique biological properties of stem cells.
The mission statement of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at the IMM is: To study the fundamental properties of stem cells and to translate their unique biological properties into novel cellular therapies for graft engineering and tissue regeneration for currently intractable disorders. While it is therefore implicit that any such program would span basic-translational-clinical research, it is essential that such an endeavour is ultimately underpinned by excellence in fundamental stem cell research. The Director of the Center, Dr. Brian R. Davis is currently in the process of recruiting a multidisciplinary faculty with the appropriate breadth of expertise, innovation and scientific rigour in the discipline of stem cell biology with the dual intention to promote the excellence and innovation of research within the Center and secondly to ensure the quality and appropriateness of stem cell based translational research initiatives emanating from the Center. In addition, the Center is also envisioned as an educational resource, which in the medium to long-term will be the basis for the development of an academic program in stem cell biology on campus. Moreover, by interfacing effectively with other programs and institutions within the UTHSC, the Center will also act as a focus to stimulate the development and implementation of novel cellular therapies for a range of diseases and disorders.
Some of the current areas of research in the Center are highlighted below:
Brian R. Davis, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine & Director, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Annie and Bob Graham Distinguished Chair in Stem Cell Biology
PhD ~ California Institute of Technology / Pasadena, California
- Dr. Davis’ laboratory is focused on genetic correction of inherited mutations with the goal of deriving cells appropriate for transplantation. Current studies focus on the development of therapies for lung disorders (cystic fibrosis and surfactant protein B deficiency) and blood disorders (sickle cell anemia and Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome).
Nathalie Brouard, PhD
Instructor, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
PhD ~ Denis Diderot University / Paris, France
- Dr. Brouard is studying the mechanism of production of blood cells during development, with the goal of creating an in vitro method for producing large quantities of blood stem cells. Her ultimate goal is to improve the efficacy of cord blood transplantation.
Qi Lin Cao, MD
Associate Professor, The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
MD~ Hunan Medical University / Hunan, China
- Dr. Cao’s research is focused on studying the therapeutic potential and long-term safety of neural stem cells for spinal cord injury and stroke repair. The long-term goal is to develop novel stem cell-based therapies for spinal cord injury, stroke and other neurological diseases.
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
MD~ The University of Texas Medical Branch / Galveston, Texas
- Dr. Cox is the Children’s Fund, Inc. Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Surgery and directs the Pediatric Surgical Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine at UTHealth Medical School. He directs the Pediatric Trauma Program at the UTHealth Medical School/Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
Dong H. Kim, MD
Professor, Chair, The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
MD~ The Univeristy of California, San Francisco / San Francisco, California
- As Director of the Mischer Neuroscience Institute (MNI) since October 2007, Dr. Kim leads the clinical neuroscience efforts for the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and UTHealth. Dr. Kim is noted for his research into the origin, development and treatment of brain aneurysms. He leads basic science efforts, such as identifying the genes that lead to an inherited risk for aneurysms and genetic changes in brain tumors, and translational projects that directly affect clinical practice.
Mikhail G. Kolonin, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Jerold B. Katz Distinguished Professorship in Stem Cell Research
PhD~ Wayne State University / Detriot, Michigan
- Dr. Kolonin is investigating the relationship between obesity and increased progression of certain cancers. This study has identified ways in which fat cells invade and facilitate the growth of cancer.
Yong Li, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
MD- Second Military Medical University / People's Republic of China
PhD- Third Miliary Medical University / People's Republic of China
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Dr. Li is an expert in investigating biological approaches to improving tissue regeneration by dedifferentiation/transformation of terminally differentiated cells into various stem cells, studying fibrous scar formation and prevention in the neural and musculoskeletal system, and bioengineering 3D soft tissues to repair (diaphragm, heart, etc.) wound defects.
Ying Liu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
MD- Peking University Health Science Center / Beijing, China
PhD- University of Utah / Salt Lake City, Utah
- Dr. Liu is focused on dissecting the developmental pathways and the corresponding pathogenesis in neural cells, specifically for spinal cord injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. Her long-term goal is to identify therapeutic targets for the treatment of central nervous system injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
Nami McCarty, PhD
Assistant Professor, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
PhD- Purdue University / West Lafayette, Indiana
- The main focus of Dr. McCarty’s laboratory is to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of stem cell fate determination and development in hematological malignancies. Developing targeted therapies inhibiting development of the stem-like cells in blood cancers is a major goal in her lab.
Naoki Nakayama, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
PhD- University of Tokyo / Tokyo, Japan
- Dr. Nakayama’s research has been focused on elucidating signaling events and cellular pathways that direct the differentiation of stem cells to cartilage, bone and blood. This work offers the potential for significant therapeutic advances in treatment of diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Pamela L. Wenzel, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
PhD- The Ohio State University / Columbus, Ohio
- Dr. Wenzel’s research is focused on studying various extrinsic factors, including biomechanical force, soluble molecules, and pharmacological compounds that enable early blood cells to contribute to the adult blood system. She is now applying these insights to increase the ability of various stem cell types to facilitate repair in traumatic brain injury.
Jiaqian Wu, PhD
Assistant Professor, The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery & Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
PhD- Baylor College of Medicine / Houston, Texas
- Dr. Wu’s laboratory combines stem cell biology and system-based approaches involving functional genomics and next-generation sequencing technologies to unravel gene transcription and regulatory mechanisms governing neural differentiation. Her goal is to identify key regulators during this process as therapeutic targets and develop safe treatment for spinal cord injury and neurological diseases.
