Studies show that many chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases, cause more than 70% of deaths worldwide. At the same time, age-related joint and neurodegenerative diseases in the population over the age of 60 negatively affect the quality of life. For this purpose, stem cell technologies in the field of regenerative medicine have great potential and are increasingly being applied in more and more applications.
Today, stem cells are a great hope in the treatment of hematopoietic diseases, healing of orthopedic damages, scar repair, treatment of diabetes and retinopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, restoration of cognitive functions, brain and cancer treatment, restoration of ear acoustic function, regeneration of intestinal mucosa, treatment of visual defects, muscle regeneration, regeneration of bladder tissue, regeneration of dental tissue. Especially Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and Hematopoietic stem cells, which are adult stem cells, are used intensively in the treatment of chronic diseases and tissue restoration studies.
These most commonly used stem cells are derived from bone marrow (BM), mobilized peripheral blood (mPB), umbilical cord blood or adipose tissue.
Neurological diseases are at the forefront of clinical trials using MSCs. Among these diseases, spinal cord injuries, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), stroke, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), traumatic brain injury, autism constitute the largest group in applications. In addition, Parkinson's Disease (PD) and retinal degeneration are also among the neurological diseases in which CCM applications are performed. The second most common disease group for MDC clinical trials is joint diseases. Among the joint diseases, the most common application of MDRs is in the treatment of osteoarthritis. In addition, MKH clinical applications are frequently performed in femoral head necrosis and rotator cuff tear diseases. The third disease group in the third place in which MDC clinical trials are performed is cardiovascular diseases. Other diseases are Graft Versus Host Disease, Lung Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Liver Diseases, Diabetes, Bone Damage, Skin Diseases, Muscle and Kidney Diseases.
The cells required for the above-mentioned treatments are collected from different sources and many researches are carried out in cell culture research laboratories until standard protocols are established before proceeding to GMP standard multiplication and manipulation processes for clinical applications.
Aims of the Center :
The aims of Üsküdar University, Cellular Therapies and Stem Cell, Application and Research Center are as follows:
a) Meeting the treatment-based needs of all clinical departments within the Faculty of Medicine of Üsküdar University in the field of Cell-Based Therapy using stem cell protocols,
b) Contributing to the development of new technologies on stem cells,
c) Carrying out scientific researches in all fields related to the purpose of putting stem cell and cellular therapies into practice, preparing the infrastructure and its functioning, processing, reproduction, storage, thawing, making ready for treatment and realizing their applications,
d) Conducting studies on cells and cell products related to cellular therapies, applying to the Ministry of Health under the leadership of clinical units for clinical applications and treatments, as well as monitoring and conducting academic education activities in the field of cells and stem cells.
At the same time, the main mission of the center is to transform academic accumulation into a commercial product that can create added value, to contribute to the national economy and academic development, to disseminate knowledge to a wide base and to carry out interdisciplinary studies with cooperation processes, to develop projects and to create employment opportunities by taking part in these projects. In this context, Üsküdar University is one of the most important educational institutions of our country in its field with its scientific power, large and competent academic staff, Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Brain Hospital, where it can use all its facilities with its "affiliation" agreement, all infrastructure and laboratory facilities, widespread participatory graduate education and continuing education center supported education, socio-cultural opportunities and thematic structure. Our university, which aims to contribute to the academic, technical, economic and social development of our country with a sense of responsibility, "follows national and international trends and scientific developments, and uses the knowledge and experience it produces for the interests of our country through scientific publications, seminars, conferences and symposiums.
Areas of Activity of the Center:
a) a) To cooperate with faculties, institutes, colleges, vocational schools, application and research centers and other institutions operating in the fields related to health services within the University, to increase the efficiency and quality of education and health services, to prepare scientific research conditions for the highest level of medical research and applications, and to ensure the provision of accessible quality cellular treatment and research in the field of cell-based therapy in which stem cells and other cell types are used as a source, especially to meet the research needs of all clinics within the Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Departments and NP Istanbul Brain Hospital.
b) After providing the necessary infrastructure and being licensed by the Ministry of Health, to provide individual-specific treatment options from the Center to all health institutions, including universities, as the provider of all stem cell and cellular therapy products under GMP conditions, and to provide infrastructure and production support for various stem cell and cellular therapy researches.
c) To establish a modern infrastructure to meet the demands for processes, techniques and products in the fields of stem cell biology, molecular biology, tissue engineering and cellular therapy in accordance with the purpose of the establishment of the Center, to make the level of laboratories equivalent to the Ministry of Health and international standards and to document them.
ç) To carry out R&D projects of scientists in all clinics within the Departments of Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine and NP Istanbul Brain Hospital, faculties, institutes, colleges, vocational schools, application and research centers and other institutions operating in fields related to health services within the University in order to use existing products in different fields or to develop new products.
d) To continue research programs that result in internationally qualified scientific publications.
e) Providing training and technical support to projects within the framework of cooperation with the research fund administrations of universities and other universities.
f) To implement biosafety and bioethics rules in the functional areas of the Center.
g) To establish a communication network with national and international research and educational institutions conducting basic and applied research on cellular therapy and stem cells.
ğ) To organize seminars, conferences, symposiums, congresses and theoretical and practical course programs at national and international level.