Ren-Ke Li, PhD, MD
Senior Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI)
My research group in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery focuses on translational research to apply new insights discovered through basic science research to clinical applications for cardiac regeneration and repair. Our research areas are:
1. Cell transplantation into damaged myocardial tissue to regenerate myocardium and restore cardiac function
2. Tissue engineering to create a muscle graft using autologous cells in combination with biomaterials for repair of cardiac defects
In 1996, I demonstrated that cardiac function after myocardial infarction could be restored by transplantation of healthy cells. Since then we have performed a number of studies to identify the optimal conditions to translate this technique into clinical applications. We also identified several possible mechanisms for implanted cells to regenerate injured myocardium to restore cardiac function. Early clinical data suggested that aged patients require enhanced cell therapy. Our current research therefore focuses on developing clinically relevant improvements to cell transplantation for cardiac treatment.
加入时间: 01.01.1993 - 至今
