Regenerative medicine is perhaps the most promising frontier of internal medicine, providing novel solutions for tissue repair, organ regeneration, and chronic disease therapy. Stem cell therapy, tissue scaffolding, and novel biomaterials are in the process of being developed to restore organ function in injured hearts, livers, and kidneys.
Internists increasingly are taking on the task of identifying patients who could be helped by regenerative treatments and overseeing long-term consequences. This new field is not only promising to extend survival but also to enhance quality of life by reversing previously irreversible conditions.