During the last two decades, there has been a surge in the development of stem cell therapies to treat numerous debilitating diseases. Cardiovascular disease is a leading target of this research due to the minimal proliferative and regenerative capabilities of the heart. These studies have quickly progressed to clinical trials; however, the initial enthusiasm has faded as outcomes from these studies have led to disappointing and inconsistent results. This Viewpoint offers an explanation as to why stem cells have yet to demonstrate a significant benefit in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease and how these challenges should be addressed.
Keywords: cardiovascular disease; heart regeneration; myocardial infarction; stem cell; tissue engineering.