General Information

Studies show that many chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases, today cause more than 70% of deaths worldwide. At the same time, age-related joint and neurodegenerative diseases in the population over 60 affect the quality of life negatively. For this purpose, stem cell technologies realized in the field of regenerative medicine have great potential and are increasingly taking their place in practice. 

Nowadays, the treatment of hematopoietic diseases, orthopedic injury healing, scar repair, treatment of diabetes and retinopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, the restoration of cognitive functions, treatment of the brain and cancer, restoration of acoustic function of the ear, regeneration of the intestinal mucosa, vision therapy, muscle regeneration, urinary bladder tissue regeneration, dental tissue regeneration and such as the elimination of many diseases or damages, stem cells are a great hope. Especially Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) and Hematopoietic stem cells from the adult stem cells are used intensively in studies aimed at treating the mentioned chronic diseases and tissue restoration. 

These stem cells, which are most commonly used in the clinic, are obtained from bone marrow (BM), mobilized peripheral blood (mPB), umbilical cord blood, or adipose tissue.
Objectives of the Center:
 
Uskudar University, Cellular Treatments and Stem Cell Application and Research Center's purposes include:
a)    To meet the treatment-based needs of all clinical departments within the Faculty of Medicine affiliated with Uskudar University in the field of Cell-Based Therapy using stem cell protocols,
b)    Contributing to the development of new technologies in stem cells,
c)    Conducting scientific researches in all areas related to the application of stem cell and cellular treatments, preparing the infrastructure and functioning, processing, reproduction, storage, dissolving, preparing for treatment and implementing their applications,
d)    Cellular therapy-related cells and cell products for studies, clinical application and clinical treatment be applied to the Ministry of Health in coordinating the units, in addition, monitoring and conducting academic educational activities in the field of cells and stem cells. 

At the same time, it is the main mission of the center to transform academic accumulation into a commercial product that can reveal added value, to contribute to the country's economy and academic development, to spread knowledge to a wide base, and to perform interdisciplinary studies with cooperation processes, to develop projects and to create employment opportunities for students by taking part in these projects. In this context, Uskudar University; Is one of the most important educational institutions of our country with its scientific power, wide and competent academic staff, all infrastructure and laboratory facilities, widespread participatory graduate education and continuous education center supported training, socio-cultural opportunities, and thematic structure together with Uskudar University NPISTANBUL Brain Hospital, where it can use all its facilities with its "affiliation" agreement. Aiming to contribute to the academic, technical, economic, and social development of our country with a sense of responsibility, our university follows national and international trends and scientific developments, and uses the knowledge and experiences it produces in the interests of our country through scientific publications, seminars, conferences, and symposiums. 

Activity Areas of the Center:
a)    The purpose of the activity areas is to meet the research needs of the departments of Uskudar University’s Faculty of Medicine and all the clinics within the NPIstanbul Brain Hospital in the field of cell-based therapy where stem cells and other cell types are used as a resource; To cooperate with vocational colleges, application, and research centers and other institutions, to increase the efficiency and quality of education and health services, to prepare scientific research conditions for the realization of medical research and applications at the highest level, and to provide accessible quality cellular therapies and researches,
b)    After providing the necessary infrastructure for and been licensed by the Ministry of Health, as the provider of all stem cell and cellular therapy products in our country under GMP conditions, providing individual-specific treatment options from the center to all health institutions, including universities, infrastructure, and production to give support for various stem cell and cellular therapy researches,
c)    In line with the establishment purpose of the center, to establish a modern infrastructure where the demands for processes, techniques, and products in the fields of stem cell biology, molecular biology, tissue engineering, and cellular therapy can be met, to make the level of the laboratories equivalent to the Ministry of Health and international standards and to document,
d)    Carrying out R&D projects in all f the clinics within Uskudar University's Faculty of Medicine and NPIstanbul Brain Hospital so that scientists in faculties, institutes, colleges, vocational schools, application, and research centers, and other institutions operating in the fields related to health services within the University, can use existing products in different fields or develop new products,
e)    To continue research programs that have become internationally qualified scientific publications,
f)    Providing training and technical support to projects within the framework of cooperation with research fund management of the university and other universities,
g)    Providing training and technical support to projects within the framework of cooperation with research fund management of the university and other universities,
h)    To create a communication network with national and international research and educational organizations conducting basic and applied research on cellular therapy and stem cells,
i)    To organize seminars, conferences, symposiums, congresses, and theoretical and practical course programs at the national and international level.