Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells Technologies

The council for stem cells sciences and technologies of the vice-presidency for science and technology affairs has aimed to perform an innovation and technology competition for Cell Directing Methods.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, the council for stem cells sciences and technologies will held the innovation challenge for development of cell targeting techniques to enhance the treatment of incurable diseases.

Presently, the majority of methods used in this regard focus on systematic cell injection or injection to target tissue. In regard to the anatomic location of various tissues, injection in tissues might be extremely invasive. Therefore, development of strategies, which deliver cells to the target tissues with non-invasive methods, seems essential.

As results, the council for stem cells sciences and technologies will support knowledge-based companies, students, faculty members of universities and research centers, and other researchers and technologists of this area individually or in group to develop cell directing methods to be placed in the desired and appropriate place”.

Since the central object of this innovative challenge is the development of cell directing methods, organs, including pancreas and liver, are prioritized.

Cell directing includes a series of efforts, which follow two specific targets; first, the cells used in cell therapy reach the target tissue and are located in the damaged area, and second, after the establishment of cell in the desired place, therapeutic effects of the method are applied.

Some of the other evaluation criteria of this challenge are economic justification (including the final price, the initial required investment) and technical justifications (easiness or complexity of the process, raw material supply situation and required equipment).

In order to participate in this event, enthusiasts of this area are encouraged to upload their conceptual design on the website of the challenge until June 22^nd 2017. At the end of the first stage, three projects will be selected by a judging panel.

The second national festival and international congress of stem cell and regenerative medicine will be held July 13^th-15^th, 2017 at international conference center with the support of the council for stem cells sciences and technologies and the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs.