Introduction
The use of human stem cells for therapeutic purposes has been on the increase in recent years. It is now a well-established form of treatment for the expansion and generation of human tissues and even organs such as skin to treat burn victims, diabetic skin lesions and other skin conditions.
Human cells have been expanded and engineered in-vitro to generate bones and cartilage which can be used in various bone and cartilage diseases. Human mesenchymal stem cells have been expanded and engineered in the lab and used to treat graft versus host disease seen in bone marrow transplantation, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases and some rheumatological diseases.
Peripheral vascular disease is now treated with specially purified stem cells. More recently, stem cells have been used for the treatment of myocardial infarction to prevent or treat permanent damage of the cardiac muscle and to prevent heart failure.
Other specialized cells have been generated to treat liver disease, renal disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, retinal and corneal diseases.
Cord blood banks are well established in many public institutions in Europe and USA. Cord blood can potentially be used to treat acute leukemia, lymphomas, aplastic anemia and many other acquired and congenital conditions.
The potential for in-vitro expansion and engineering of human cells is tremendous and is undergoing major developments aimed at curing or alleviating many conditions, especially those related to aging. Stem cell therapies are hoped to solve many incurable illnesses which currently cannot be managed adequately by classic medical methods.
The University of Jordan has recognized the great need for a center that can isolate, expand and engineer human cells in-vitro for research purposes and therapeutic needs. It has been recognized that the current academic and hospital facilities -both nationally and locally- do not meet the full needs for cell therapy.
v For this purpose the University of Jordan has initiated and completed all the steps needed to establish a standalone center, including the approval by the council for higher education, assignment of a slot of land and budgeting for the construction of the building.
Mission
The center aims at establishing a high-standard scientific, technical and academic milieu for the generation of human autologous, non-autologous and modified cells for therapeutic or research purposes.
Vision
§ Our long-term vision foresees this center as a national and regional center of excellence and distinction in the fields of cell therapy and biology of stem cells.
§ We aspire to develop our center into a hub for research for scientists in various fields of cell therapy, cell and tissue engineering, and stem cell biology.
§ In addition, the center shall represent an educational core for training scientists and technologists in the fields of centers’ specialty.
§ It will provide an expert opinions and consultations in the fields of cell therapy and stem cell biology.
The Center
1-Space:
The center is a standalone center and will be housed in a purpose built building. It is estimated that a space of 3200/m2 will be built for the currently anticipated functions and the possibility to expand to 3700/m2 for future functions.
2-Functional Units:
The center will have:
· Two special clinical grade tissue culture units
The units will be of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and will meet EU
and FDA standards. This will be referred to as “the factory” since it will be the focal
point for the production of the highest clinical grade cells, tissues and “organs” for use
in humans.
The units will be equipped and maintained in accordance with international standards and will have the needed certification of accreditation from EU and FDA bodies.
· Eight laboratories for: cell identification, cell sorting, tissue and cell processing, tissue engineering, scaffold laboratory and analytical laboratory.
· Two research lab facilities
· Clinical study facility:
The purpose is to conduct clinical trial in a safe and controlled environment.
· Offices, Teaching rooms, Seminar rooms, and other Support rooms
The center will have many functional units headed by special scientists including;
§ Cord Blood Unit (CBU)
§ Mesenchymal Cell Unit (MCU)
§ Tissue Engineering Unit
§ Stem Cell Unit (SCU)
§ Skin & Bio-skin Unit (SBU)
§ Bone and Cartilage Unit
§ Neuro-regenerative Unit
§ Scaffold and Bio-scaffold Unit
§ Cell processing and Identification Unit (CIU)
§ Research and development Unit (RU)
§ Support Unit (SU)
Ø All these units will work in an integrated and coordinated manner in a multidisciplinary team spirit.
Ø The center will work within strict ethical and technical standards on "not for profit" basis. It will abide by all standards of accreditation in question and all related standards of quality.
Ø The center will provide a platform for research in the various disciplines of medicine, biology, bio-polymer, bio-physics, virology and bacteriology.
3-Collaboration
The center will collaborate with many reputable institutions in the same field for the benefit of patients, research and mankind.
The collaboration will include, but will not be limited to, combined research protocols and projects, training of technologists and scientists, sharing of experience and ideas.
4- Administrative and Academic Rules and Directives
The center will function under the laws and directives of Jordan University. It has an independent council of trustees which reports directly to the university president.
The council includes in its membership prominent dignitaries from outside the university as well as high ranking academicians from the university.
The council formed of the following:
1- Prof Abdallah Awidi Abbadi.MD Chairman of the council
2- Excellency Dr. Mohammad Abu-Hammur
3- Excellency Mr. Sameeh Darwazah
4- Excellency Dr. Haifa Abu-Ghazalah
5- Excellency Dr. Ziad Sharaihah. MD
6- Excellency Mr. Jihad Moumani
7- Excellency Director general, Jordan University Hospital
8- Dean of the Medical school, Jordan university
9- Dean of Scientific research, Jordan University
Contact us
Professor Abdallah Awidi Abbadi. MD.FRCP is the person in charge of the project.
He is currently professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology and head of the molecular Hematology lab at the Medical School.
He can be contacted at:
Office Phone: +962-6-5355000 ext 23960 \ 23961