2023 was a special year for the Institute of Cell Therapy – we celebrated the anniversary “20 years on the medical market of Ukraine”. And during the second year in the conditions of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Institute of Cell Therapy not only continues its functioning, but all divisions of the enterprise are developing.
All this turned out to be possible thanks to the dedicated work of our employees and highly professional management. So, summing up the past year, we will introduce you to the main achievements of the Institute of Cell Therapy in 2023.
Extention of membership in the Cord Blood Association, the main international organization of accredited cord blood banks
In the conditions of a full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the Institute of Cell Therapy is making every effort to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the enterprise and to provide citizens of Ukraine with the only opportunity in their lives to preserve the umbilical cord blood and perinatal tissues (umbilical cord, placenta) at the birth of a child. Therefore, the Cord Blood Association extended the Institute of Cell Therapy membership in the organization. Previously, the Institute of Cell Therapy received personal thanks from the President of the Organization – Joan Kurtzberg, a world expert in the use of umbilical cord blood stem cells in pediatric neurology and hematology (USA).
Creation of a method of treatment of gunshot and mine-explosive wounds using amniotic membrane from the placenta
The use of the amniotic membrane in the treatment of wounds is based on its unique biological and structural features. After the initial surgical and medical treatment of the wound, the amniotic membrane, cryopreserved by the ICT method, is applied to the affected area to reduce inflammation and stimulate the regeneration of soft tissues. Preliminary results of experimental treatment demonstrated an impressive effect on reducing the area of the wound surface, stimulating the growth of granulation tissue and epithelization of the wound edges; pain syndrome also decreases and the quality of life of patients improves.
Successful treatment of a Ukrainian soldier using a tissue preparation made by ICT
10/18/2023 at the Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of NAMNU (Odesa) a combined operation was performed on the left eye of a soldier born in 1998 regarding a gunshot corneoscleral wound of the left eye with shedding of membranes. For the surgical treatment of the defender of Ukraine, a cryopreserved amniotic membrane preparation from a donor placenta, manufactured by the Cryobank of the Institute of Cell Therapy, was used. At the time of discharge, according to the ophthalmological examination, the patient’s condition of the left eye improved and signs of light perception appeared.
The ICT method of treating COVID-19 is in the center of attention abroad
The Institute of Cell Therapy jointly with the Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases and Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 4 developed a method of treating COVID-19 using placenta stem cells. Based on the results of the research, not only a series of articles were published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals, in particular the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Q1) and Biomedical Reports. The Ukrainian method and clinical trial were mentioned at the Cord Blood Connect 2023 World Cord Blood Congress in the USA and a review article by the well-known international organization Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.
Development of cell therapy methods on the basis of 2 clinics in Kyiv and Georgia
Since its foundation in 2003, the priority area of ICT activity has been not only to provide expectant parents with the opportunity to preserve stem cells of umbilical cord blood and perinatal tissues (umbilical cord, placenta), collected during childbirth, according to the highest international standards, but also to ensure the possibility of using the preserved material in treatment diseases in Ukraine. As part of clinical trials, stem cell therapy for a wide range of diseases is carried out in Ukraine and Georgia using the author’s patented ICT methods. Methods of anti-aging therapy and cosmetic procedures using placenta extract are being constantly improved, postpartum and post-COVID rehabilitation programs are also available.
International cooperation
In addition to membership in the CBA, scientists of the Institute of Cell Therapy participate in the activities of the International Society for Cell Therapy (ISCT), the International Society for Placental Stem Cell Research (IPLASS), the International Federation of Placenta Research Associations, and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Confirmation of the effectiveness of the intellectual and scientific contribution of the Institute of Cell Therapy in international research projects are 3 scientific articles published by ICT scientists in 2023, co-authored with leading world scientists in the journals Stem Cells Translational Medicine (IF=7.67, Q1) and Biotechnology&Bioengineering. Publications are devoted to hot issues of cryopreservation and clinical application of stem cells of perinatal tissues (placenta, umbilical cord) and improvement of legal regulation of their biobanking.
Successful scientific activity
The development of a biotechnological company is impossible without constant scientific and research work aimed at developing new methods of treatment and drugs, improving cryopreservation protocols, conducting clinical studies. For this purpose, the Institute of Cell Therapy has a Center of Science with an R&D Center and a laboratory of placental stem cells. In 2008, the Institute of Cell Therapy, one of the first medical institutions of Ukraine, received permission from the Coordination Center for Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to conduct clinical research using human stem cells. ICT employees participated in the implementation of numerous international grants, in particular COST Action of the EU Horizon program and NFSU projects. In 2023, ICT scientists published 5 scientific articles in international publications.
Publication of the specialized journal “Cell and Organ Transplantology”, indexed in Scopus
Since 2013, the exclusive for Ukraine scientific and practical journal “Cell and Organ Transplantology” has been published with the financial support of the Institute of Cell Therapy. The journal is intended for a wide range of doctors, scientists, students of medicine and biology, who are interested in issues of cell and organ transplantology or work in this field. The journal is indexed in Scopus and included in the list of professional journals of Ukraine. The journal is also registered in the Pubmed database and indexed in Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory, NLM Catalog, CiteFactor, International Scientific Indexing and Open Academic Journals Index.
Participation in the Association of cryobanks of umbilical cord blood, other human tissues and cells
The Institute of Cell Therapy is a co-founder and active member of the Association of cryobanks of umbilical cord blood, other human cells and tissues. Created in 2013, the Association of Cryobanks takes an active part in the formation of the legal market of high-quality cryopreservation services of biomaterial in Ukraine on the basis of fair competition, harmonization of legal regulation of the industry. In the conditions of a full-scale invasion, the Institute of Cell Therapy continued to support the Association of Cryobanks in the implementation of educational activities, consulting of citizens, invitation of leading foreign experts to cooperation.
