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Retrodifferentiation in the treatment of a rare condition: Acquir | 18136
Journal of Genetic Syndromes & Gene Therapy

Journal of Genetic Syndromes & Gene Therapy
Open Access

ISSN: ISSN: 2157-7412

+44 1223 790975

Retrodifferentiation in the treatment of a rare condition: Acquired aplastic anaemia


2nd World Congress on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs

June 29-30, 2017 London, UK

Ilham Abuljadayel

TriStem Corp Ltd, UK

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Genet Syndr Gene Ther

Abstract :

Stem cells can offer cures to treat many rare diseases, which can be used to correct a plethora of genetic conditions or replenish damaged tissue and cells in acquired disorders, in allogeneic or autologous manners, respectively. The limiting factors for such applications are; the availability and quantity of the stem cell source, the identification of a suitable histocompatible donor and the aggressive nature of ablation therapies that enable engraftment. On the other hand, retrodifferentiation technology which is similar to epimorphic regeneration, albeit, occurs ex vivo, offers a rapid additional source of stem cells with high efficiency. The process involves dedifferentiation/retrodifferentiation of mature adult cells such as peripheral leukocytes into a heterogeneous population of stem cells belonging to a give tissue. Retrodifferentiation procedure produces unlimited supply of stem cells from patient or donor blood which have been shown to be safe as well as capable of long term engraftment. Furthermore, the autologous retrodifferentiated stem cells have been shown to engraft human bone marrow in the absence of ablation, in a rare disease such as acquired aplastic anaemia. This presentation will focus on the production of multipotent stem cells prepared from mononuclear cells and its application in the treatment of aplastic anaemia, a rare condition if left untreated lead to rapid morbidity.

Biography :

Ilham Abuljadayel discovered the process of retrodifferentiation in the early nineties. This direct reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells is achieved through cell surface receptor contact of more mature adult human cells such as leucocytes. She was awarded worldwide patents on the methodology and device, enabling the production of unprecedented levels of pluripotent stem cells from differentiated cells. Based on her research, she co-founded the TriStem Group. She worked as a Consultant Immunologist at the King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, and then, she headed the TriStem Research on retrodifferentiation at the London Hospital, Kings College, Downing College University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke Hospital. She performed the first preclinical study on the functional utility of the autologous retrodifferentiated stem cells in collaboration with the George Washington Medical centre, USA, in two animal models of human diseases. She, in a clinical human trial, applied the autologous retrodifferentiated stem cell therapy in aplastic anemia and beta thalassemia-major in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Pakistan Medical Research Council, respectively. She currently resides in the UK and remains the Head of Research for Clinical Application of the autologous retrodifferentiated stem cell therapy in haematological and degenerative diseases.

Email: iabuljadayel@tristemcorp.com

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