Journal of Defense Management
Open Access

Abstract

Cell Therapy Assistance in Reconstructive Surgery for Musculoskeletal Tissues Following Burn and Trauma: Swiss Cellular Transplantation Platform

Anthony de Buys Roessingh, Samia Guerid, Yok-ai Que, Mette Berge, Nathalie Hirt-Burri, Corinne Scaletta, Wassim Raffoul, Tapani Alatossava and Lee Ann Applegate

Health issues for severe burns and trauma affecting populations from both civilian and military can have many similarities. Much of the medical progress for treatment and surgical care has been documented during times of catastrophic events and war. Death and morbidity of military personnel due to blast and combat-related injuries has declined as a result of improved surgical management, faster transport, and the use of antibiotics. Integration of cellular therapies could aid in repairing damaged tissues more rapidly. As bio-engineered cells and materials would be readily available, they could rapidly be used in the military settings, especially for the treatment of burns and trauma. Cell sources that can be easily expanded and stocked (allogenic sources) would be interesting cell sources to have developed to avoid the biopsy from the patient and the time necessary to prepare the cells before treatment. Cell sources can originate from both animal and human and at all periods of development extending from embryonic to adult. Cell sources can be technically demanding or they can be developed from primary tissue and the resulting cells can remain more similar to their original state. The use of progenitor cells have been developed in a unique Federal Transplantation Program Registration in Switzerland (cell lines have been described and deposited in the European Protection Agency Cell Depository, Porton Down?s) should help to advance cellular therapy programs with qualified material that is available when needed for both soft and hard tissues that have been injured. We will give an overview of: i) cell therapies used in military practice to date; ii) Description of cell types and cell choices for regenerative medicine; and iii) The organization of the progenitor cell therapy platform in Switzerland; iv) Pre-requisite recommendations for the future of using cell therapies in world defense and human security.