HeartWorks builds, tests, and delivers new therapies to cure congenital heart defects giving these families the opportunity to live full, enriching lives.
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Behind every scientific breakthrough at HeartWorks is a dedicated team of individuals working with purpose, precision, and compassion. For families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD), the science that happens behind the scenes carries the promise of better treatments and brighter futures. In this month’s Employee Spotlight, we are proud to introduce Desiree Kalloway, a long-standing member of HeartWorks whose journey – from Okinawa, Japan to Rochester, Minnesota – has been defined by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to advancing patient-specific cardiac cell manufacturing.
From Okinawa to Rochester: A Life Shaped by Science, Family, and Culture
Desiree’s journey to HeartWorks began thousands of miles away in Okinawa, Japan, where she spent her early life before moving to the United States after high school to pursue her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound. Her passion for science and discovery eventually led her to Rochester, Minnesota in 2012, where she began graduate studies in molecular pharmacology – setting the foundation for what would become a pivotal career in regenerative medicine and CHD research.
During that same chapter of life, she reconnected with a high school friend during college – a reconnection that would turn into a lifelong partnership. Together for 15 years, Desiree and her husband are raising two children, an 11-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son, alongside their 13-year-old family dog.
Outside of work, Desiree’s life is fueled by movement, creativity, and exploration. Fitness plays a central role in her routine, with bootcamp-style workouts in a home gym she built with her husband. Dance has remained a lifelong passion that began in college through performances and teaching dance fitness classes. Today, that passion carries forward through her children as she supports their own dance training and offers guidance along the way.
Travel is another meaningful part of her life – particularly her family’s annual trips back to Japan. These trips are filled with discovery, from tucked-away cafés and bakeries to museums, beaches, and cultural landmarks. Some of her favorite experiences include visiting a doll history museum, the iconic Pokémon Café, and even stumbling upon the best freshly made ginger ale hidden in the basement of a department store. In quieter moments, Desiree enjoys reading historical and contemporary fiction, karaoke, arts and crafts with her children, and unwinding with TV shows and anime.
A Decade of Growth in the HLHS Program
Desiree joined the HLHS Program in 2014, during a time of rapid growth and transformation within the organization. While her official job title has remained consistent over the years, the scope and impact of her role have evolved dramatically as HeartWorks’ scientific mission has expanded.
She began her career focused on the large-scale production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for research use, gaining extensive experience navigating the unique behaviors of different cell lines. iPSCs are stem cells created by reprogramming adult cells so they can become many different types of cells, including heart cells. This early exposure required constant adaptation, precision, and quality control to ensure that the highest-quality products were delivered for downstream research.
As HeartWorks progressed from research-focused work into *GMP-minded, clinical-grade manufacturing, Desiree played a key role in that transition. She helped develop standardized processes for iPSC production and cardiac differentiation (the process of guiding stem cells to become beating heart muscle cells in the laboratory) under strict regulatory expectations – laying groundwork that is now foundational to today’s patient-specific cardiac cell manufacturing.
*GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) refers to strict quality standards required when producing cells that may one day be used in patients
Today, her work is centered on producing patient-specific cardiac cells for both clinical and research applications – directly supporting the long-term goal of improving treatment options for individuals born with congenital heart defects.
Inside the Lab: Precision, Problem-Solving, and Progress
In her current role as a laboratory technician supporting R&D, product development, GMP, and testing operations, Desiree’s days blend hands-on science with strategic coordination. A typical day might involve overseeing cell culture and testing schedules, executing experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting any unexpected challenges that arise along the way.
Some days are spent almost entirely in the laboratory – especially during periods of exponential cell growth when hundreds of millions of cells require close monitoring and care. During these times, even media preparation alone can take over an hour. Other days are more focused on data review, documentation, and planning – essential moments for maintaining process control and preventing disruptions.
For Desiree, success is defined by consistency, smooth operations, and the absence of major surprises – goals that require both scientific expertise and organizational discipline.
Teamwork, Patients, and the HeartWorks Mission
What makes HeartWorks especially meaningful to Desiree is the strength of the team and the shared mission. The organization brings together individuals with diverse expertise, each contributing a unique piece to the larger puzzle of CHD research and innovation. Watching how far the team has come over the past decade is a powerful reminder of what collaboration can achieve.
Equally inspiring are the patients and families that HeartWorks serves. The opportunity to interact with them on a regular basis creates a tangible connection between the lab and the lives impacted by the work. Their stories, resilience, and perseverance provide constant motivation – especially on the most challenging days.
Education, Advocacy, and Preserving Heritage
One of Desiree’s greatest passions at HeartWorks is education and transparency. She finds deep fulfillment in providing facility tours and presentations that help patients, families, and community members understand the science behind the manufacturing process. By demystifying how cardiac cells behave and how HeartWorks’ technology works, she helps build trust, connection, and confidence in regenerative medicine for CHD.
Outside of work, Desiree is equally passionate about preserving her Okinawan heritage. In the aftermath of World War II, Okinawa experienced devastating civilian losses, and cultural preservation has since become deeply important to future generations. She is committed to passing that history and identity on to her children through food, travel, local exploration, museum visits, festivals, and meaningful time with extended family in Japan.
Desiree is now focused on the next evolution of process improvement within HeartWorks’ manufacturing program. Being part of the first clinical-grade process now in use remains a defining moment of her career, and she is energized by the opportunity to refine cardiac differentiation protocols that will further enhance the final cardiac cell product.
As GMP operations continue to expand – introducing increased iPSC production and iPSC-CL manufacturing – Desiree is excited to support this growth alongside the broader R&D and operations teams. With many complex initiatives ahead, she remains motivated to tackle each challenge with the same dedication that has defined her work since 2014.
A Career Built on Science, Service, and Heart
Desiree Kalloway’s journey reflects the very heart of HeartWorks – where cutting-edge science meets compassion for families impacted by congenital heart disease. Through her work in patient-specific cardiac cell manufacturing, her commitment to education, and her dedication to both her team and her family, Desiree continues to help move HeartWorks’ mission forward one cell, one process, and one patient at a time.
FAQs
What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)?
iPSCs are adult cells that scientists reprogram to behave like stem cells that can become many different cell types, including heart cells.
How are stem cells used in heart disease research?
Scientists use stem cells to create heart cells in the lab so they can study disease and explore regenerative therapies.
What is patient-specific cardiac cell manufacturing?
It is the process of creating heart cells from a patient’s own cells to study disease and develop personalized therapies.
Stem cell research is opening new possibilities for understanding and treating congenital heart disease through regenerative medicine.
