Revitalizing the Body Through Regenerative Medicine in New York

In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus defied Zeus by giving fire to humanity. As punishment, he was chained to a mountain where an eagle consumed his liver each day — only for it to grow back overnight.

A self-renewing liver may seem legendary, but the broader concept of repair and renewal forms the foundation of one of today’s most dynamic fields in modern science: regenerative medicine.

“Regenerative medicine is essentially about making use of the body’s own ability to rebuild tissues,” explained Thomas Rando, MD, PhD, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.

For more than twenty years, the Broad Center has united researchers across scientific disciplines to uncover disease mechanisms, develop therapies that restore the body, and explore how regeneration may slow aging. Their work has led to nearly 400 patents, 176 clinical trials, and 28 startup companies.

This field is a core research theme at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where collaborative efforts break down departmental barriers to advance scientific discovery.

The body’s natural regenerative capacity is essential for life. When that system weakens, regenerative medicine steps in to restore function at the cellular level. Bone marrow transplants, for example, have treated leukemia by replenishing healthy blood-forming stem cells for decades. CAR T-cell therapy, a more recent innovation, reengineers a patient’s immune cells to target cancer.

Scientists are now exploring whether this healing potential can be extended to organs that traditionally cannot repair themselves — such as the heart.

“When part of the heart dies after a heart attack, it doesn’t return,” Dr. Rando said. “But research is now exploring whether we can grow new cardiac cells in the lab and transplant them.”

This potential to reverse the physical effects of injury, disease, and aging is what makes regenerative medicine so extraordinary — with implications for patients nationwide, including major research hubs like New York and communities across Long Island. Clinics such as Evolve Medical, offering specialized regenerative medicine services and advanced expertise for patients across Long Island and New York, are part of a growing network bringing these scientific discoveries into real-world applications.

What Is “Inflammaging”?

Anthony J. Covarrubias, PhD, first became fascinated by inflammation’s role in aging while studying biology at UCLA.

“I found it remarkable that chronic inflammation contributes not only to diseases like cancer and diabetes, but also to the aging process,” said Dr. Covarrubias, now an assistant professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics.

His work focuses on inflammaging, which refers to the persistent, low-grade inflammation that increases with age. A key component is cellular senescence — when stressed or damaged cells permanently stop dividing.

Senescence helps prevent damaged cells from spreading, but as the immune system ages, it becomes less able to clear them. These “zombie cells” accumulate, fueling chronic inflammation and harming healthy tissues. Over time, this can lead to diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and impaired tissue repair.

Lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise also accelerate the buildup of senescent cells. Dr. Covarrubias’ research showed that a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet triggered senescence even in young mice — a finding relevant to conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

His team discovered large numbers of senescent cells in inflamed liver tissue and is now studying methods to reverse the damage. Collaborations with clinician-scientists help translate these discoveries into potential therapies for patients, including populations disproportionately affected by NAFLD — such as Latino communities, whether in California or regions like Long Island.

Healthy aging, he emphasizes, still begins with lifestyle choices. Dr. Covarrubias often reflects on this while tending to his garden, where he grows fruits, vegetables, and collects eggs every morning from his chickens.

“Working in my garden helps me stay grounded, appreciate balanced nutrition, and follow the same advice I share with others.”

Research as “Insurance” for Aging

Dr. Rando likens the study of senescence to “buying insurance” for future age-related injuries.

“When someone has a hip fracture later in life, our goal is for them to recover as quickly as a young person — but that’s not where we are yet,” he said.

Most medical breakthroughs begin with basic laboratory research — a process that often takes decades. Dr. Rando’s work examines how aging affects muscle regeneration. As stem cells grow older, they become less efficient at repairing damaged tissues.

His team is trying to determine whether aging stem cells can regain youthful function, with the long-term goal of using them to rebuild muscle following injury or diseases like muscular dystrophy.

Image Source – https://pixabay.com/photos/beauty-woman-flower-hat-cap-355157/

“This idea has existed for decades, but early trials were disappointing,” he said. “There’s still so much to learn.”

Breakthroughs come slowly, through diligent and methodical study. “It’s a privilege to know that the work we do today could improve human health 10 or 20 years from now.”

Re-Creating the Lungs

Stem cells also offer a powerful way to study complex organs. In her laboratory, Brigitte Gomperts, MD, is growing miniature human lungs from adult stem cells collected from a large tissue biobank. These 3D lung organoids allow her to model disease, test potential therapies, and study how toxins — from cigarette smoke to wildfire pollution — affect the lungs.

They also provide more accurate biological representation than mice, which produce very little airway mucus.

A key part of her research focuses on mucociliary clearance, the process by which mucus traps inhaled particles and cilia move them out of the airway. When this system breaks down, diseases like cystic fibrosis or chronic bronchitis can take hold.

“Many people with chronic bronchitis struggle with constant coughing,” said Dr. Gomperts. “Being able to reduce excess mucus production could be incredibly beneficial.”

Her team screened around 200 drugs and found one that blocks the mucus-production pathway. They have since filed a patent — the first step toward a possible human therapy.

“My passion is discovering treatments that can help real patients,” she said. “That’s what drives our work.”

From Lab Discovery to Medical Treatment

The journey from scientific discovery to patient treatment is long — often referred to as the “Valley of Death” in research. Basic scientists spend years uncovering the cellular mechanisms that become the basis of future therapies.

“I don’t think most people realize how many years go into developing a drug,” said Dr. Rando. “Or how many decades of research make modern transplants possible.”

He also emphasized the importance of sustained investment in biomedical research, which supports innovation in regenerative medicine and beyond.

“The United States remains a global leader in medical science, and UCLA reflects that leadership,” he said. “It’s important for people to see the enormous value of that investment.”

From California to major medical centers in New York and Long Island, regenerative medicine is shaping the future of healthcare — offering hope for restoring the body in ways once thought impossible.