Cristina Bertolotto, MD
Dr. Cristina Bertolotto is an internationally recognized physician, scientist, and entrepreneur whose career spans over three decades at the intersection of neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and translational science. With medical training from the University of the Republic in Montevideo, Uruguay, and advanced postdoctoral research in neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she has dedicated her life to developing innovative therapies that harness the potential of stem cells to treat complex human diseases.
Academic and Research Work
After earning her medical degree in 1990, Dr. Bertolotto pursued extensive postdoctoral research fellowships at UCLA, specializing in neuroscience, neurodevelopment, and regenerative biology. Her research explored auditory system development, neurodegeneration, the aging process, neurodegenerative diseases, and sleep research. She also studied cellular mechanisms underlying fibrosis and wound healing. Dr. Bertolotto was a Research Scientist in the Department of Pediatrics at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for fourteen years, where she led projects creating novel fibroblast cell lines, while mentoring pre-medical students, medical students, residents, fellowship doctors and postdoctoral fellows. Concurrently, she served as Adjunct Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, where she developed teaching programs and advanced translational research initiatives.
Her scientific output includes numerous peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, and a U.S. patent on adipocyte and stem/progenitor cell co-culture systems. She has presented at leading international conferences and has been elected to memberships in the Society for Neuroscience, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Board of Regenerative Medicine, and other professional organizations.
Leadership in Regenerative Medicine and Biotechnology
Dr. Bertolotto is best known for pioneering the clinical application of Immature Pluripotent Adult Stem Cells, for which she and Dr. Heneidi coined the term "ImPS™", a discovery of the smallest known stem cell (as small as 1 micron) that underpins much of her therapeutic work. In 2017, she founded the Cristina Bertolotto Regenerative Medicine Institute in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she created and optimized dozens of clinical protocols. Her protocols integrate autologous stem cell therapy with traditional therapies, targeted nutrition and physical therapy, ensuring patient-centered approaches with demonstrable outcomes. Dr. Bertolotto is currently working to submit information to the appropriate FDA agency for guidance on expanding her protocols to the U.S.
Building on this foundation, she co-founded and now leads multiple companies advancing regenerative medicine globally. As CEO of BHC Management, LLC (since 2024), she directs a startup dedicated to working within regualtory gudiance and compliance to be able to deliver safe, innovative treatments, which may include autologous stem cell treatments. Dr. Bertolotto is a co-founder and board member of OBTG Inc. (2019–present), the world’s first telemedicine company dedicated exclusively to orthobiologics and regenerative medicine. Dr. Bertolotto established Uruguay’s first stem cell laboratory following strict guidelines, and secured regulatory approval in Uruguay for multiple diseases and conditions. Click here to review Dr. Bertolotto's Uruguay clinic website.
Translational Medicine, Technology Transfer, and Policy Impact
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Bertolotto has played a central role in bridging research and commercialization. From 2009 to 2012, she managed Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Technology Transfer Office, overseeing a portfolio of more than 200 biomedical innovations, leading licensing negotiations, and facilitating the spin-off of new biotech startups. She also provided advisory support for technology transfer initiatives across Eastern European countries and Latin America, working with Uruguay’s National Agency for Innovation and Research (ANII) and the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo.
Her influence extends into global entrepreneurship and policy. She has served since 2015 as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) Ambassador of Uruguay, representing the nation at international forums hosted by the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. She is also a member of the World Business Angels Investment Forum’s Economic Development Board, an affiliate of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.
Honors and Recognition
Dr. Bertolotto’s leadership has been recognized by governments and global institutions. In 2010, she was invited by the President of Uruguay, Dr. Tabaré Vazquez, to participate as an honored Uruguayan scientist to the “Foro de Innovation de las Americas”, Montevideo-Uruguay.
In 2014, she was invited by the President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, to participate in a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama to advance cooperation in education, science, and biotechnology. She later joined President Obama’s official delegation to the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya where she also was honored and invited by the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
She has also been honored by the Uruguayan Stock Exchange for her role as a biotech entrepreneur and recognized as an influential woman leader at Kiva’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund in San Francisco.
Teaching and Faculty Roles
As an educator, Dr. Bertolotto has held faculty appointments at the University de la Republica School of Medicine, Department of Biophysics and Department of Physiology, Montevideo, Uruguay and also at institutions across the Americas and Europe. She is a longstanding faculty member of The Orthobiologic Institute (TOBI) and Orthoregen International, where she lectures on regenerative medicine protocols for musculoskeletal and autoimmune conditions. She has also contributed to post-graduate programs in Brazil and Mexico, training physicians in advanced stem cell therapies. Her lectures—delivered at venues from the Barcelona Futbol Club to international symposia in Brazil, at the Institue Cugat in Barcelona, Spain, and in various venues throughout the United States—reflect her global reach and commitment to disseminating knowledge.
Vision and Legacy
Multilingual in English, Spanish, and French, Dr. Bertolotto is a truly global physician-scientist. Her life’s work embodies a vision: to develop regenerative therapies that are safe, effective, and accessible, while advancing the science of cellular medicine - all within a regulatory-compliant framework. By uniting basic research, clinical innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership, she has become a bridge between academia, industry, and patient care.
From her early investigations into auditory neurobiology to her current leadership of biotech enterprises, Dr. Cristina Bertolotto has consistently challenged conventional boundaries in medicine. Her career illustrates how scientific discovery, clinical translation, and entrepreneurial drive can converge to transform healthcare and improve lives worldwide.
Saleh Heneidi, MD
Dr. Saleh Heneidi is a board-certified molecular genetic pathologist and anatomic/clinical pathologist whose career bridges clinical diagnostics, academic medicine, and translational research. With a foundation in biochemistry, physiology, and pathology, his work has advanced understanding of cancer genomics, stem cell biology, and molecular diagnostics while shaping new standards in patient safety and precision medicine.
Education and Training
Dr. Heneidi began his academic journey at the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2005. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Human Physiology at Georgetown University in 2013 before earning his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in 2017. His residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Augusta University culminated with his role as Chief Resident, followed by a Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, completed in 2022.
Clinical Roles, Research and Certifications
Dr. Heneidi holds board certifications in both Molecular Genetic Pathology (2022–present) and Anatomic/Clinical Pathology (2021–present), with active medical licensure in California. His clinical experience includes serving as a Clinical Instructor at Cedars-Sinai, a pathologist with Kaiser Permanente South Bay, and a member of Beverly Pathology Group. In 2024, Dr. Heneidi co-founded BHC Management, LLC (with Cristina Bertolotto, MD and two seasoned healthcare executives). BHC Management, LLC, a management services organization (MSO) is dedicated to developing a worldwide network of regenerative medicine practices.
Throughout his career, Dr. Heneidi has contributed to groundbreaking research and discoveries at the intersection of molecular genetics and oncology. His early work with Dr. Cristina Bertolotto helped identify a novel adipose-derived stem cell population, leading to a U.S. patent on methods of producing preadipocytes and enhancing proliferation of adipose stem/progenitor cells.
Dr. Heneidi has since published extensively, with more than 30 peer-reviewed papers, review articles, and book chapters covering topics from adipose stem cell biology to cancer genomics and rare tumor characterization. His recent scholarship emphasizes population-based studies of rare and aggressive cancers, racial disparities in oncologic outcomes, and molecular pathways that inform targeted therapy. His articles have appeared in leading journals such as Cancer Journal, Cancers (Basel), Clinical and Translational Oncology, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Cureus, and Diabetes. He has also co-authored influential studies on SARS-CoV-2 variants and immunogenetics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Heneidi continues to pursue research at the interface of molecular pathology and translational medicine. His current projects investigate novel genomic mechanisms underlying adrenal carcinoma, systemic biases in tumor classification, and molecular insights into combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma.
Teaching and Academic Service
An active educator, Dr. Heneidi has trained pathology residents, molecular fellows, and medical students in molecular pathology, genomic testing, and clinical applications of next-generation sequencing. At Augusta University, he served as team leader for CAP inspections, representative to the Resident’s Forum, and an instructor for pathology electives. At Cedars-Sinai, he provided structured instruction for residents and fellows while participating in tumor boards across disciplines including thoracic oncology, CNS tumors, breast cancer, and molecular diagnostics.
Professional Engagement and Leadership
Dr. Heneidi has been deeply engaged in professional societies that advance the field of pathology. He has served as a state delegate to the College of American Pathologists, a committee member for the Georgia Association of Pathologists, and an active member of the Association for Molecular Pathology and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. He has also participated in the American Association for Cancer Research and the Endocrine Society.
Awards and Recognition
His contributions have been recognized nationally. During residency, he received the Stephen Peiper Award for Excellence in Research, the Pathology Chair’s Award, and the Dr. Walter L. Shepeard Achievement Award. He was also named a Safety Intelligence Patient Safety Star for implementing innovations that prevented patient harm. More recently, he was nominated for a Patient Safety Star at Cedars-Sinai and invited to serve as a faculty presenter at the USCAP Annual Meeting, where he delivered a special course on the molecular pathology of melanoma and sarcoma.
Presentations and Thought Leadership
Dr. Heneidi has presented his work at leading national and international conferences, including the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the Association for Molecular Pathology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science. His lectures span subjects from next-generation sequencing in tumor diagnostics to molecular-genetic insights into sarcomas and carcinomas. He has also shared expertise in public health, giving invited updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants to the Los Angeles County EMS Agency.
Vision and Impact
Throughout his career, Dr. Heneidi has united laboratory science with clinical application to improve patient outcomes. His work in molecular diagnostics is advancing personalized oncology, while his early stem cell discoveries laid a foundation for regenerative medicine research. A dedicated clinician, researcher, and mentor, he continues to contribute to the evolving fields of molecular pathology, cancer genomics, and precision medicine.