title: Stem cell research and regenerative medicine at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.
abstract: Translation of stem cell research from bench to bedside opens up exciting new therapeutic options for patients. Although stem cell research has progressed rapidly, its clinical applications have not kept pace. We report on the establishment of a stem cell research and regenerative medicine program at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC). The purpose of this unit is to coordinate advanced stem cell research and translational outcomes with the goal of treating chronic human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, and liver diseases. Our first step in achieving this goal was to integrate the stem cells and regenerative medicine unit with our umbilical cord blood bank and bone marrow registry. This organizational structure will provide different sources for stem cells for research and clinical purposes, and facilitate our stem cell research and stem cell transplantation program. We are at an early and exciting stage in our program, but we believe that our progress to the international stage will be rapid and have a significant impact.
authors.affiliation: 1 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Mohamed H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abumaree
authors.forename: Ahmed S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al Askar
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalionis
authors.forename: Fawaz Mohamed
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Abomaray
authors.forename: Dunia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jawdat
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hajeer
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fakhoury
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al Jumah
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017146:Models, Organizational; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D012042:Registries; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D057905:Stem Cell Research; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014015:Tissue Banks