Renowned Cardiologist to Spotlight New Stem Cell Research To Repair Severe Heart Damage During St. Louis Visit

Renowned cardiologist Dr. James Willerson will discuss findings from a recently released study that could pave the way for new stem cell therapies to treat patients with severe heart failure when he appears at a May 24 event in St. Louis that is sponsored by Missouri Cures Education Foundation.

Dr. Willerson, president and medical director of Texas Heart Institute, led a research team that found a patients’ own bone marrow stem cells can potentially be used to repair the heart and restore healthy blood flow after severe heart failure. The findings are from a multi-center clinical study -- the largest such investigation to date of bone marrow-derived stem cells ever done in patients with severe heart failure. The findings were presented in March at the annual session of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago.

Researchers hope that continuing favorable trial results will pave the way for new clinical trials and, ultimately, new therapies that could help patients with heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. About 5.8 million people in the United States have heart failure, according to the NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Dr. Willerson is the Edward Randall III Professor of Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He also is the former chairman of the National American Heart Association Research Committee and a former board member.

“I believe we were meant to learn of the powerful potential of stem cells and build on it,” Dr. Willerson said. “Ultimately, stem cell research could give us the ability to regenerate whole hearts.”

The May 24 presentation is open to the public and will be held at The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132. Tickets are $100 per person ($65 of which is tax deductible) and include a cocktail reception, which begins at 5 p.m. The presentation will follow at 6 p.m.

“We are delighted that Dr. Willerson is able to come to St. Louis and share his exciting research, which has the potential to help millions of patients who have heart failure,” said Dena Ladd, executive director of Missouri Cures Education Foundation.

Dr. Doug Mann, Lewin Chair and Chief, Cardiovascular Division of Washington University School of Medicine, will introduce Dr. Willerson.

Event sponsors are: Dr. William Danforth; James and Elizabeth McDonnell; Ambassador Sam and Marilyn Fox; John and Anne McDonnell; and The Staenberg Family Foundation in conjunction with THF Realty.

Host committee members are: Dan and Connie Burkhardt; Lynn and Kathy Chipperfield; Michael and Leslie Christ; Drs. Sessions and Pat Cole; Rabbis James Goodman and Susan Talve; Dr. William Joffe and Liz Heller; Drs. Doug Mann and Laura Colletti; Bob and Colleen Millstone; Bruce and Kim Olson; Doug and Kathy Pope; Joe and Annie Schlafly; Tom and Mary Stillman; Ambassador Bert and Carol Walker; Stephen and Dr. Carolynn Wolff.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit Missouri Cures Education Foundation and its efforts to educate Missourians about the importance of medical research, including stem cell research. Tickets may be ordered by contacting Debbie Davis at (314) 993-1900 or email DDavis@MissouriCures.org Checks may be mailed to: Missouri Cures Education Foundation, P.O. Box 16580, St. Louis, MO 63105.