Pericytes for cardiovascular repair: a roadmap towards first-in-man trial Paolo Madeddu, Prof. MD FAHA University of Bristol Recent studies have highlighted the regenerative potential of progenitor cells from human vasculature. This presentation will address the protocol for isolation, expansion and preclinical testing of human pericytes from saphenous veins of elderly cardiovascular patients in view of a first in human clinical trial. We have so far isolated pericytes from more than 70 venous samples and characterized variability of preparations and we are now introducing clinical grade reagents, including the use of immunomagnetic beads for separation of antigenically defined cells and serum free media. We have also obtained initial epigenetic hits that predict preclinical therapeutic activity and indicate safety of the cell product.