COVER STORY

The Future of Modern Medicine

Renowned cardiologist publishes book on stem cell therapy and its benefits

PHOTOS BY CHRIS MORTENSON

By Kamala Kirk

Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that promotes the human body’s ability to naturally repair and heal itself by introducing special human cells (known as stem cells) that can develop into just about any type of cell, including brain and muscle cells. Stem cell therapies have been used in thousands of clinical trials to treat a variety of conditions such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, although the only FDA-approved stem cell treatments at the moment are those used in procedures such as bone marrow transplants for patients with disorders that affect blood production. Renowned cardiologist and professor, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz, is a worldwide pioneer in the field of stem cell research who has participated in many clinical trials using stem cells for different conditions, including a study he published in 2021 that showed the promising benefit of using stem cell therapy to treat critically ill patients with COVID-19. A triple board certified clinical and academic cardiologist, he is a clinical professor of medicine at UCLA, and joined Cedars Sinai Medical Center and UCLA as Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cardiac Device Program in 2006. In 2015, Schwarz was appointed Director of Cardiology, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, and Director of the Heart Institute at the Southern California Hospital at Culver City. “I was fortunate enough to be involved very early on in stem cell research and I became fascinated by the whole idea,” Schwarz said. “I was part of an experimental study more than 25 years ago where we used the heart cells of pregnant rat embryos and transplanted those embryonic cells and stem cells into the damaged heart tissue of host animals. We

Schwarz spent a year writing the book in the basement of his home, the historic Rosenheim Mansion in Los Angeles that was featured on the first season of “American Horror Story” and is known to fans as the “Murder House.”

were the first to show the world that not only could those cells could survive in the recipient tissue for several months, but there was noticeable improvement in the heart function of the animals. That was one of the first studies showing the potential of using embryonic cells and stem cells for possible regeneration of tissue and it created a lot of hype among clinicians.” Pursuing a career in medicine came naturally for Schwarz, who is from a lineage of physicians that can be traced all the way back to the 1700s when one of his ancestors served as the personal doctor for Austrian empress Maria Theresa. “It’s very fulfilling to be able to help people and take care of patients, especially the really sick ones who need more than just the standard therapies,” Schwarz said. “It’s also exciting to be involved in research that will continue to move us into a new and different direction in the future. There is a big shift from reactive medicine where we treat patients’ symptoms caused by disease to regenerative medicine, where we don’t just treat the symptoms—we repair the damage to increase lifespan and longevity.” In May 2022, Schwarz published his new book, “The Secret World of Stem Cell Therapy: What You Need to Know about the Health, Beauty, and Anti-Aging Breakthrough.” It was written to educate the general public about stem cells, differentiate between false advertising and the validity of scientific research, and to help them know what questions to ask when considering stem cell therapies. The book is also geared towards healthcare providers that are interested in expanding their knowledge about modern medicine and regenerative therapy. “This isn’t a medical textbook, it’s an informational guide for those that might be interested in stem cell therapy,” Schwarz said. “I knew it was necessary because there’s not much out there. The few things that have been published are either from researchers and they’re very technical, or from clinicians without the scientific background and are lacking a lot of basic information. My job is to declare the scientific facts—what is known about stem cells, stem cell studies and research—as well as the regulatory and legal issues surrounding them. There is a lot of false marketing and advertising, and places without any scientific reputation are offering stem cell therapies just so they can make a quick buck. This book should also be seen as a warning to not believe everything you see or hear.” Schwarz spent a year writing his book in the basement of the historic home he owns in Los Angeles. The Rosenheim Mansion, known to “American Horror Story” fans as the “Murder House,” was prominently featured throughout the first season of the popular TV show. The house is also rumored to be haunted, and Schwarz mentioned that while writing the book in the basement he had some unusual experiences but couldn't elaborate further on the topic for the time being. After the official book launch, Schwarz hosted a special event for the public to showcase the book and raise awareness for the need to support stem cell research while at the same time, raising money for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. He is also involved in other clinical studies involving stem cell therapy for various conditions and looks forward to continuing his research and publishing more in the future. “There is so much happening in the research world every single day with stem cells,” Schwarz said. “Every single study that has been published has shown benefits and even though they are not FDA approved at this point, there is enormous potential. There is also a growing demand for stem cell therapy’s anti-aging benefits in skin care and for treating hair loss. I remind my patients that those services are experimental and aren’t approved, but they do work. It’s absolutely amazing what stem cells can do for a person’s life and health.” “The Secret World of Stem Cell Therapy: What You Need to Know about the Health, Beauty, and Anti-Aging Breakthrough” is available for $17.95 (paperback) and $8.49 (Kindle, NOOK Book). The book can be purchased at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target and other retailers.

Dr. Ernst von Schwarz

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