CELLULAR THERAPEUTICS BREAKS NEW GROUND

Researchers in the new Ann Kimball and John W. Johnson Center for Cellular Therapeutics are building on advances in nanotechnology, RNA technology and neuroimaging to vault into the next dimension of medicine with cellular therapeutics.

Cell therapy infuses or implants live cells — often a patient’s own cells treated externally — back into the body to fight disease or repair and rejuvenate cells.

“How we can help patients is only limited by our imagination,” says Dr. Stanley H. Appel, the Peggy and Gary Edwards Distinguished Chair in ALS Research in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, director of the Ann Kimball and John W. Johnson Center for Cellular Therapeutics and co-director of the Neurological Institute at Houston Methodist.

Innovation permeates the Johnson Center, made possible from a generous lead gift from Ann and John W. “Johnny” Johnson. Nearly 50 benefactors have joined their efforts, witnessing their gifts matched dollar-for-dollar as part of a Challenge Fund.

The Johnson Center equips researchers and physicians in every corner of the Houston Methodist system with the resources needed to develop new treatments. The areas that could see cell therapy breakthroughs include cardiology, cancer, transplant, neurology, and orthopedics and sports medicine.

For example, the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center is growing the RNA Therapeutics Program through the Johnson Center. RNA-mediated therapies have the potential to treat neurological and infectious diseases, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Houston Methodist’s ability to provide cell therapy is game-changing, says Dr. Jenny C. Chang, the Emily Herrmann Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research and the director of the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center.

“Cellular therapy, because of its complexity, is generally administered at academic medical centers like the Houston Methodist campus in the Texas Medical Center,” Dr. Chang says. “Our vision is to provide this highly specialized cellular therapy treatment at all our regional hospitals.”