Michael A. Helmrath, MD
- Co-Director, Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM)
- Director, Surgical Research
- Director, Center for Bariatric Research and Innovation
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Professor, UC Department of Surgery
- michael.helmrath@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
As a pediatric surgeon-scientist, I'm dedicated to helping patients with intestinal diseases and obesity. I always wanted to be a physician — caring for children and conducting research focused on strategies to improve the outcomes of those with intestinal failure.
My clinical interests are bariatric surgery and surgery to correct intestinal failure. My clinical work allows me to translate gastrointestinal conditions into the laboratory, where we are working to develop highly innovative approaches for treating intestinal diseases.
In my research lab, I've established a multidisciplinary team dedicated to translational, clinical, and basic science research focused on intestinal diseases. We are characterizing intestinal stem cells during adaptation and are working to develop intestinal regenerative strategies.
I believe that understanding the biology of intestinal stem cells is key to unraveling the mechanisms involved during the disease process. In my lab, we've developed in vitro culture techniques to maintain and expand individual human intestinal stem cells derived from human tissue samples, pluripotent stem cells, and surgical animal models.
I serve as the Director of Surgical Research, Director of the Center for Bariatric Research and Innovation, and Director of the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM). I am board certified in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.
BA: Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1987.
MD: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 1993.
MS: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 1989.
Certification: Board-certified General Surgery; board-certified, Pediatric Surgery.
Interests
Surgery - general and thoracic; intestinal disorders; surgical weight loss
Services and Specialties
Surgery - General and Thoracic, Intestinal Disorders, Surgical Weight Loss
Interests
Intestinal diseases research
Research Areas
General and Thoracic Surgery
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
Ten-Year Outcomes after Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2024; 391:1656-1658.
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids repair damaged bowel in vivo. Cell Stem Cell. 2024; 31:1513-1523.e7.
Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation Lead to Severe Growth Failure in Infants. Annals of Surgery. 2024; 280:432-443.
Mechanical stimulation promotes human intestinal villus morphogenesis in vivo. 2024; 5:032102.
Presurgery health influences outcomes following vertical sleeve gastrectomy in adolescents. Obesity. 2024; 32:1187-1197.
WNT2B Deficiency Causes Enhanced Susceptibility to Colitis Due to Increased Inflammatory Cytokine Production. CMGH Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2024; 18:101349.
RAAS-deficient organoids indicate delayed angiogenesis as a possible cause for autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis. Nature Communications. 2023; 14:8159.
Development of functional resident macrophages in human pluripotent stem cell-derived colonic organoids and human fetal colon. Cell Stem Cell. 2023; 30:1434-1451.e9.
Reducing Unnecessary Oophorectomies for Benign Ovarian Neoplasms in Pediatric Patients. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 2023; 330:1247-1254.
Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Clinic Focused on the Care of Adolescents with Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2023; 16:2799-2807.
From the Blog
Organoid Medicine Milestone Reported in Cell Stem Cell
Michael A. Helmrath, MD, Magdalena Kasendra, PhD9/12/2024
Organoids Validated as Tool for Studying Fetal Intestine Development
Michael A. Helmrath, MD5/4/2023
Novel Approach Generates Most Complex Stomach, Esophagus Organoids to Date
Michael A. Helmrath, MD, James M. Wells, PhD ...2/8/2023
Scientists Add Nerves to Intestinal Organoids
Michael A. Helmrath, MD, James M. Wells, PhD6/30/2019
Overcoming Nature’s Complexity to Help Patients with Intestinal Disease
10/20/2014
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