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. 2021 Jun;8(3):2306-2309.
doi: 10.1002/ehf2.13256. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Reparative cell therapy for the heart: critical internal appraisal of the field in response to recent controversies

Thomas J Povsic  1 , Ricardo Sanz-Ruiz  2 , Andreu M Climent  2 , Roberto Bolli  3 , Doris A Taylor  4 , Bernard J Gersh  5 , Philippe Menasché  6 , Emerson C Perin  7 , Giulio Pompilio  8 , Douwe E Atsma  9 , Lina Badimon  10 , Anthony N DeMaria  11 , Joshua M Hare  12 , Timothy D Henry  13 , Stefan Janssens  14 , Jens Kastrup  15 , Daniele Torella  16 , Jay H Traverse  17 , James T Willerson  7 , Francisco Fernández-Avilés  2
Affiliations

Reparative cell therapy for the heart: critical internal appraisal of the field in response to recent controversies

Thomas J Povsic et al. ESC Heart Fail. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

The concept that cell-based repair of myocardial injury might be possible was introduced almost two decades ago; however, the field of cardiovascular reparative medicine has been criticized as translation to clinically effective approaches has been slow. The recent retraction of a series of papers has further impacted perception of this area of research. As researchers, clinicians, and teachers in this field, we felt it incumbent to critically appraise the current state of cardiac cell repair, determine what can be learned from past mistakes, and formulate best practices for future work. This special communication summarizes an introspective assessment of what has fallen short, how to prevent similar issues, and how the field might best move forward in the service of science and patients.

Keywords: Myocardial repair and regeneration; Reparative cell therapy; Stem cell therapy.

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