Ke Cheng, Ph.D.

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A Short Biography:

Dr. Ke Cheng is a research scientist and assistant professor of medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, where he directs the Cardiac Stem Cell Manufacturing Lab. Dr. Cheng is also an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at UCLA.
Work Titles
Cedar-Sinai Medical Center Director, Cardiac Stem Cell Manufacturing Laboratory Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
UCLA Adjunct Assistant Professor, Medicine
Education:
Degrees:
Ph.D.

Contact Information:

Email Address:

Ke.Cheng@cshs.org


Work Phone Number:

310 423 7065

Mailing Address:

Cedars Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd
1090 Davis Building
Los Angeles, CA 90048


Research Interest:

Repairing broken hearts with Stem Cells and Biomaterials

After a heart attack, many heart muscle cells dye and a scar forms, leaving the injured heart cannot pump blood properly. Unlike other organs, such as intestine and liver, the heart's capability to regenerate itself is limited. My lab is interesting in using stem cells (especially heart-derived cells) and biomaterials to restore heart function. For stem cell translational research, my lab has been focused on cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CDCs), studying their origins and testing their therapeutic potential in animal models and human beings. I served as the Director of Stem Cell Manufacturing for the recently completed CADUCEUS trial utilizing patient-derived autologous CDCs to treat ischemic heart diseases. For bioengineering techniques, we use a combination of magnetic/molecular targeting, tissue engineering, nanotechnologies, biodegradable polymers, and imaging technologies to better understand stem cell biology in vitro and in vivo, and develop more potent therapies for ischemic heart diseases. For fundamental researches, my lab is fascinated by questions such as: how bloodborn stem cells cross the vessel wall and reach the parenchyma; how cell-cell contact can reprogram injured cardiovascular cells to mediate endogenous rejuvenation/repair; how microRNAs involve in cardiac protection and regeneration.

Cardiac regenerative medicine using stem cells and biomaterials

For stem cell translational research, my lab has been focused on cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CDCs), studying their origins and testing their therapeutic potential in animal models and human beings. I served as the Director of Stem Cell Manufacturing for the recently completed CADUCEUS trial utilizing patient-derived autologous CDCs to treat ischemic heart diseases. For bioengineering techniques, we use a combination of magnetic/molecular targeting, tissue engineering, nanotechnologies, biodegradable polymers, and imaging technologies to better understand stem cell biology in vitro and in vivo, and develop more potent therapies for ischemic heart diseases. For fundamental researches, my lab is fascinated by questions such as: how bloodborn stem cells cross the vessel wall and reach the parenchyma; how cell-cell contact can reprogram injured cardiovascular cells to mediate endogenous rejuvenation/repair; how microRNAs involve in cardiac protection and regeneration.

Detailed Biography:

Dr. Ke Cheng is a stem cell biologist and biomedical engineer who has served on the UCLA School of Medicine faculty since he joined the Department of Medicine in 2010. Dr. Cheng is also a faculty member and Director of Cardiac Stem Cell Manufacturing at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, where his lab is located. Dr. Cheng earned his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Engineering at Zhejiang University in China and Ph.D. in Biological Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens. His lab studies regenerative medicine strategies with a particular focus on stem cells, biomaterials and bioengineering approaches to heart regeneration.

Publications:

A selected list of publications:

Cheng Ke, Blusztajn Agnieszka, Shen Deliang, Li Tao-Sheng, Sun Baiming, Galang Giselle, Zarembinski Thomas I, Prestwich Glenn D, Marbán Eduardo, Smith Rachel R, Marbán Linda   Functional performance of human cardiosphere-derived cells delivered in an in situ polymerizable hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogel Biomaterials, 2012; 33(21): 5317-24.
Cheng Ke, Shen Deliang, Smith Jeremy, Galang Giselle, Sun Baiming, Zhang Jinying, Marbán Eduardo   Transplantation of platelet gel spiked with cardiosphere-derived cells boosts structural and functional benefits relative to gel transplantation alone in rats with myocardial infarction Biomaterials, 2012; 33(10): 2872-9.
Li Tao-Sheng, Cheng Ke, Malliaras Konstantinos, Smith Rachel Ruckdeschel, Zhang Yiqiang, Sun Baiming, Matsushita Noriko, Blusztajn Agnieszka, Terrovitis John, Kusuoka Hideo, Marbán Linda, Marbán Eduardo   Direct comparison of different stem cell types and subpopulations reveals superior paracrine potency and myocardial repair efficacy with cardiosphere-derived cells Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2012; 59(10): 942-53.
Makkar Raj R, Smith Rachel R, Cheng Ke, Malliaras Konstantinos, Thomson Louise E J, Berman Daniel, Czer Lawrence S C, Marbán Linda, Mendizabal Adam, Johnston Peter V, Russell Stuart D, Schuleri Karl H, Lardo Albert C, Gerstenblith Gary, Marbán Eduardo   Intracoronary cardiosphere-derived cells for heart regeneration after myocardial infarction (CADUCEUS): a prospective, randomised phase 1 trial Lancet, 2012; 379(9819): 895-904.
Cheng Ke, Malliaras Konstantinos, Li Tao-Sheng, Sun Baiming, Houde Christy, Galang Giselle, Smith Jeremy, Matsushita Noriko, Marbán Eduardo   Magnetic enhancement of cell retention, engraftment and functional benefit after intracoronary delivery of cardiac-derived stem cells in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion Cell transplantation, 2012; 379(9819): .
Shen Deliang, Cheng Ke, Marbán Eduardo   Dose-Dependent Functional Benefit of Human Cardiosphere Transplantation in Mice with Acute Myocardial Infarction Journal of cellular and molecular medicine, 2012; 59(3): .
Cheng Ke, Malliaras Konstantinos, Shen Deliang, Tseliou Eleni, Ionta Vittoria, Smith Jeremy, Galang Giselle, Sun Baiming, Houde Christiane, Marbán Eduardo   Intramyocardial injection of platelet gel promotes endogenous repair and augments cardiac function in rats with myocardial infarction Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2012; 59(3): 256-64.
Malliaras Konstantinos, Li Tao-Sheng, Luthringer Daniel, Terrovitis John, Cheng Ke, Chakravarty Tarun, Galang Giselle, Zhang Yiqiang, Schoenhoff Florian, Van Eyk Jennifer, Marbán Linda, Marbán Eduardo   Safety and efficacy of allogeneic cell therapy in infarcted rats transplanted with mismatched cardiosphere-derived cells Circulation, 2012; 125(1): 100-12.
Shen Deliang, Wang Xiaofang, Zhang Li, Zhao Xiaoyan, Li Jingyi, Cheng Ke, Zhang Jinying   The amelioration of cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction by the injection of keratin biomaterials derived from human hair Biomaterials, 2011; 32(35): 9290-9.
Li Tao-Sheng, Cheng Ke, Malliaras Konstantinos, Matsushita Noriko, Sun Baiming, Marbán Linda, Zhang Yiqiang, Marbán Eduardo   Expansion of human cardiac stem cells in physiological oxygen improves cell production efficiency and potency for myocardial repair Cardiovascular research, 2011; 89(1): 157-65.
Lai Yinzhi, Asthana Amish, Cheng Ke, Kisaalita William S   Neural cell 3D microtissue formation is marked by cytokines' up-regulation PloS one, 2011; 6(10): e26821.
Li Tao-Sheng, Cheng Ke, Lee Shuo-Tsan, Matsushita Satoshi, Davis Darryl, Malliaras Konstantinos, Zhang Yiqiang, Matsushita Noriko, Smith Rachel Ruckdeschel, Marbán Eduardo   Cardiospheres recapitulate a niche-like microenvironment rich in stemness and cell-matrix interactions, rationalizing their enhanced functional potency for myocardial repair Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio), 2010; 28(11): 2088-98.
Zhang Yiqiang, Li Tao-Sheng, Lee Shuo-Tsan, Wawrowsky Kolja A, Cheng Ke, Galang Giselle, Malliaras Konstantinos, Abraham M Roselle, Wang Charles, Marbán Eduardo   Dedifferentiation and proliferation of mammalian cardiomyocytes PloS one, 2010; 5(9): e12559.
Cheng Ke, Kisaalita William S   Exploring cellular adhesion and differentiation in a micro-/nano-hybrid polymer scaffold Biotechnology progress, 2010; 26(3): 838-46.
Marbán Eduardo, Cheng Ke   Heart to heart: The elusive mechanism of cell therapy Circulation, 2010; 121(18): 1981-4.
Cheng Ke, Li Tao-Sheng, Malliaras Konstantinos, Davis Darryl R, Zhang Yiqiang, Marbán Eduardo   Magnetic targeting enhances engraftment and functional benefit of iron-labeled cardiosphere-derived cells in myocardial infarction Circulation research, 2010; 106(10): 1570-81.
Davis Darryl R, Zhang Yiqiang, Smith Rachel R, Cheng Ke, Terrovitis John, Malliaras Konstantinos, Li Tao-Sheng, White Anthony, Makkar Raj, Marbán Eduardo   Validation of the cardiosphere method to culture cardiac progenitor cells from myocardial tissue PloS one, 2009; 4(9): e7195.
Cheng Ke, Lai Yinzhi, Kisaalita William S   Three-dimensional polymer scaffolds for high throughput cell-based assay systems Biomaterials, 2008; 29(18): 2802-12.
Hu Gang-liang, Lu Xiu-yang, Cheng Ke, Liu Dan-qing   [Application potentials of on-line near infrared spectroscopy technology in manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine] Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica, 2003; 28(12): 1117-9.

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