The Distinguished Lecture on “Aged Bone Marrow Rejuvenation Using Young Stem Cells Restores Tissue Function and Repair Capacity” will take place as follows:
Date: 07 January 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 10:30 – 12:00
Venue: Research Building N21, 3/F, 3004
The speaker is:
Prof. LI Ren-Ke, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen)
The Lecture is:
Aged Bone Marrow Rejuvenation Using Young Stem Cells Restores Tissue Function and Repair Capacity
Abstract:
With aging, the function of bone marrow stem cells (SCs) declines due to alterations in the local stem cell niche and the accumulation of intrinsic cellular damage. Impaired SC function contributes to compromised immune responses, leading to the accumulation of senescent cells, chronic inflammation, and diminished tissue repair capacity. Using preclinical models, our group has demonstrated that transplantation of young bone marrow stem cells into aged recipients effectively repopulates the aged bone marrow with functional young SCs. This intervention restores bone marrow function by increasing both the number and regenerative capacity of stem cells. As a result, tissue repair responses are significantly improved in multiple organs, including the aged heart, skeletal muscle, brain, and retina. Through dynamic cross-talk between the rejuvenated bone marrow and peripheral tissues, transplanted young stem cells home to aged tissue and sites of injury, thereby enhancing tissue repair and regeneration.
Biography:
Prof. LI Ren-Ke is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to cardiac regeneration and translational cardiovascular medicine. Prof. LI is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, at the University of Toronto, and a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network. He previously held the Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Regeneration (Tier 1) and was a Career Investigator of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. He currently serves as a Professor of Medicine at the School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen).
Over the past three decades, Prof. LI has been at the forefront of cardiac regeneration research. His group established foundational concepts in muscle cell transplantation for cardiac repair, followed by stem cell–based approaches for cardiac regeneration. His current research focuses on rejuvenating aged stem cells and aged recipients to enhance repair and regenerative capacity. Elucidating the mechanisms of repair, regeneration, and rejuvenation aims to enable the development of next-generation cell therapies for restoring cardiac function in elderly patients. In parallel, he has applied tissue engineering strategies to develop conductive biomaterials designed to reduce cardiac arrhythmias. Prof. LI has published more than 290 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals and has successfully translated several discoveries toward clinical application.
