“Latest Stem Cells News”

Viet Nam’s National Hospital of Pediatrics in Ha Noi this morning announced the initial success of its first stem cell therapy treatment of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), making it only the second medical institution in the world to successfully treat this genetic skin disease in this manner.

Children with EB lack a protein that anchors the outer layer of skin to the body, resulting in very fragile skin that peels off with minor friction or trauma. They suffer painful wounds and infections which eventually are fatal.

The four-year-old boy who underwent the bone marrow transplant received tissue taken from his sister, aged 10, on September 16, to stimulate the production of healthy skin cells.

Nguyen Viet Anh had a severe form of EB, which caused his toes to stick to each other and skin to peel off the inside of his mouth, said hospital director Nguyen Thanh Liem.

“It is a very complicated technology but we are happy that the donor’s bone marrow tissue has taken in his body,” he said.

Anh’s white cell count has increased to a normal level 40 days after the transplant from almost zero. The area of affected skin is now only 7 per cent of the body, a big progress from 23 per cent before the transplant.

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One of the most advanced research centers for the therapeutic applications of epithelial stem cells in the world, the ‘Stefano Ferrari’ regenerative medicine center at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, opened its doors with the ambitious goal of becoming the flagship research center in Italy. It was completely financed by the Modena Savings Bank, which invested 13 million euros for its completion and was inaugurated by Welfare Minister Maurizio Sacconi and Emilia-Romagna President Vasco Errani. It includes a new three floor, 30,000 square meter building (half of which is contamination controlled) at the University of Modena, and will employ 50 researchers and experts when fully operational.

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