Christof Westenfelder

Christof Westenfelder, MD

Languages spoken: English, German

Academic Information

Departments Emeritus - Internal Medicine

Divisions: Nephrology & Hypertension

Academic Office Information

Christof.Westenfelder@hsc.utah.edu

Board Certification

  • American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
  • American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Nephrology)

Christof Westenfelder, MD, FACP, is tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, and Chief, Section of Nephrology at the George E. Wahlen VA Health Sciences Center. As Nephrologist, his clinical interests include General Nephrology, Acute Care Nephrology, and he is conducting a specialized clinic for patients with Kidney Stone Disease at the University Hospital.

Westenfelder received his MD from the University of Kiel-Lübeck, Germany. He received his training in Medicine in Germany (Berlin) and in Medicine and Nephrology from the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. In the past, Westenfelder served as Chief of the Dialysis Units at the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine, and the West Side VA Hospital in Chicago, IL. He is a member of the American and International Societies of Nephrology, is a Fellow the American College of Physicians, a member of the Artificial Organ Institute, University of Utah, and numerous other scientific and medical associations.

Education History

Fellowship University of Illinois - Chicago
 Fellow
University of Illinois - Chicago
 Resident
Internship Cook County Hospital
 Intern
West Suburban Hospital Medical Center
 Intern
Internship Rittbergkrankenhaus
 Intern
St. Marys Health Center
 Externship
Doctoral Training Christian-Albrecht's University
 Doctorate
University of Munich
 MD
Undergraduate Wilhelm's Gymnasium
 BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Westenfelder C, Gooch A, Hu Z, Ahlstrom J, Zhang P (2017). Durable Control of Autoimmune Diabetes in Mice Achieved by Intraperitoneal Transplantation of "Neo-Islets," Three-Dimensional Aggregates of Allogeneic Islet and "Mesenchymal Stem Cells". Stem Cells Transl Med, 6(7), 1631-1643. (Read full article)
  2. Azizi Z, Lange C, Paroni F, Ardestani A, Meyer A, Wu Y, Zander AR, Westenfelder C, Maedler K (2015). β-MSCs: successful fusion of MSCs with β-cells results in a β-cell like phenotype. Oncotarget, 7(31), 48963-48977. (Read full article)
  3. Tgel F, Isaac J, Hu Z, Weiss K, Westenfelder C (2005). Renal SDF-1 signals mobilization and homing of CXCR4-positive cells to the kidney after ischemic injury. Kidney Int, 67(5), 1772-84. (Read full article)

Patent

  1. (2019). Neo-Islets for the glycemic control of Type I and Type II Diabetes mellitus” (14) Pending: “Treatment of Microvascular Disorders with Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes.
  2. (2019). Adaptation of hollow fiber Bioreactors to the expansion if pancreatic islet cells, formation of “Neo-Islets” and production of Exosomes.
  3. C. Westenfelder (2019). Stem Cell, precursor cell, or target cell-based Treatment of Multi-organ Failure and Renal Dysfunction.
  4. Westenfelder C (2019). Protection and Improved Recovery of Patient from Acute Renal Failure. U.S. Patent No. U-2315. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  5. C. Westenfelder (2019). Fused stem cells useful for the treatment of diabetes and methods thereof.
  6. C. Westenfelder (2019). protection from lethal irradiation with mesenchymal stromal cells. U.S. Patent No. EP 2658964 A1. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  7. C. Westenfelder (2010). Assay for the prediction of therapeutic effectiveness of mesenchymal stromal cells, and methods of using same.
  8. C. Westenfelder (2009). Mesenchymal stromal cell populations and methods of isolating and using same.
  9. C. Westenfelder (2008). Therapy of kidney diseases and Multiorgan failure with mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell conditioned media. U.S. Patent No. US 2008/0241112 A1. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  10. C. Westenfelder (2007). Potentiation of stem cell homing and treatment of organ dysfunction or organ failure. U.S. Patent No. PCT/US08/01371. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  11. C. Westenfelder (2005). Erythropoietin for Treatment of Multi-Organ Failure. U.S. Patent No. US 2007/0293421. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  12. C. Westenfelder (2005). Enzyme activated nitric oxide donors. U.S. Patent No. 6867194. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  13. C. Westenfelder (2004). Method of use of erythropoietin to treat ischemic acute renal failure. U.S. Patent No. 6784154. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  14. C. Westenfelder (2004). Compositions and methods related to production of erythropoietin. U.S. Patent No. US 2007/0078084 A1. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  15. c. Westenfelder (2004). Stem cell, precursor cell, or target cell-based treatment of multiorgan failure and renal dysfunction. U.S. Patent No. US 2007/0178071. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  16. Westenfelder C, Kishore B, Isaac J (2003). Induction of Proliferation of erythropoietin producing interstitial cells in the kidney by the administration of poly-D-glutamic acid. U.S. Patent No. U-3515. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  17. Westenfelder C (2002). Stem Cell Nephroplasty: treatment of Kidney Transplant-Associated Acute Renal Failure with adult, hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic stem Cells. U.S. Patent No. U3379. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  18. Westenfelder C (2002). Stem Cell Nephroplasty: treatment of Chronic Renal Failure with adult, hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic stem Cells. U.S. Patent No. U-3380. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  19. Westenfelder C (2002). Stem Cell Nephroplasty: treatment of Acute Renal Failure with adult, hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic stem Cells. U.S. Patent No. U-3377. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.