Regenerative medicine is an exciting branch of biomedical study that primarily incorporates therapeutic advancement involving stem cells. Through the lens of regenerative medicine, physicians and scientists have the potential to curate revolutionary treatment plans that fundamentally alter the way in which we approach both disease and wellbeing.
This translational approach to care most directly impacts organ replacement and tissue repair. Through the use of stem cells, these complicated procedures can be streamlined to provide better outcomes for the patients whose donated organs and tissues risk rejection in a standard organ transplant.
Ranked #24 for Medical Research and #1 in the state of Ohio, the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and its faculty have remained on the forefront of this cutting edge research. For example, the first stem cell transplant done in Ohio was carried out at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, one of our key affiliates. Additionally, some of the earliest patents on stem cells were filed in 1982 by our own professor, Dr. Arnold Caplan, who has continued to play a significant role in the development of stem cell research and regenerative therapies.
Moreover, the university also has direct ties to the National Center for Regenerative Medicine which was founded in 2003 by our very own Dr. Stan Gerson (Dean, School of Medicine). The National Center for Regenerative Medicine is constantly evolving due to the dynamic nature of regenerative medicine research. Nevertheless, the work that this institute has accomplished over the past 20 years is groundbreaking. Additionally, this institute has initiated key partnerships with many of our hospital affiliates and also has led to the founding of a variety of private companies.
Given the novelty of regenerative medicine as an area of study, our program is constantly pushing to be at the forefront of this growth and development. To this end, the Regenerative Medicine & Entrepreneurship program here at Case Western has a variety of components that aid in this innovation. Through a wide array of concentrations and access to cutting-edge research and internships with faculty experts, our interdisciplinary program allows students to garner the skills for careers in both industry and academia.