Regenerative Medicine Gone Wild: Stem Cell Applications and Biobanking in Exotic Animal Species
Explore stem cell mechanisms of action and considerations for clinical application in exotic patients.
About the Course
The webinar explores the current and emerging applications of stem cell therapy in exotic animal medicine, covering the different types of stem cells, their sources, and considerations for clinical administration across species. Participants will review the evidence supporting mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), including clinical trials, safety, efficacy, and the practical aspects of their therapeutic use in exotic animals.
This program has been RACE approved (20-1391652) for 1 hour of continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
Learning objectives
- Describe the immune–barrier–microbiome triad and explain how dysregulation of each component contributes to allergic, immune-mediated, and wound-related dermatological disease in companion animals.
- Summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs modulate cutaneous immunity, restore epidermal barrier integrity, and support wound healing across the phases.
- Compare the major MSC delivery routes used in veterinary dermatology.
- Review the current veterinary evidence base for MSC therapy in canine atopic dermatitis and other dermatological diseases.
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About the presenter
Valerie Johnson
Dr. Johnson currently works at Michigan State University as an Assistant professor, a position she has held for the past 5 years. She is a small animal critical care veterinarian with a strong interest in exotic species and wildlife. Dr. Johnson received her PhD in immunology in 2020 at Colorado State University.
During her 10 years at CSU, she developed a protocol to grow mesenchymal stem cells from blood from elephants and giraffes and has treated multiple exotic species, including elephants, giraffes, large felids, bears, monkeys, and multiple other species.
Over the past ten years, she has been investigating the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a therapeutic modality for various disease processes including multidrug-resistant infections, immune-mediated disease, and arthritis.
She has worked with animal models to elucidate the mechanisms by which these cells exert a therapeutic effect and has also completed multiple clinical trials in dogs and exotic species with a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Her current research interests include the development of a cellular-based wound dressing for infected wounds, investigating the potential anti-viral effects of mesenchymal stem cells, and comparing the therapeutic effects of MSCs between species with age-related osteoarthritis.
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