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The main aim for the creation of The Stem Cell Excellence Centre (STEC)
was the integration of Polish clinical centres working in the field of
stem cell progenitors with the European Research Area through
networking, exchange and twinning. This centre will play an important
role in the activation and propagation of stem cell based research in
this part of Europe. The objective of this project is to reorient
activities towards new priorities in research and clinical applications
of cooperating centres. The recent advances in the area of stem cell
plasticity clearly demonstrate that stem cells present in the various
tissues of the human body play an important role in the regeneration of
other organs (heart, skin, etc).
The first objective of this project is to
increase the network of the medical faculty of the Jagiellonian
University Medical College in Cracow and other centres in Poland with
the other EU university hospitals and university research centers well
recognized in the field of progenitor cell applications in Paris,
Regensburg, Ulm, Bristol, Vienna, Vageningen, Aalberg etc. In the past
few years both an interest on stem cell research as well as an interest
in their clinical application increased at Jagiellonian University. The
reason for this was the creation of two bone marrow transplant centres
(for adults and children), activation of a program aimed towards the
application of ex vivo expanded keratinocytes to treat combustions and
skin lesions, and the creation of an endothelial progenitor cell
laboratory. All these units have long lasting contacts with several
scientific centres in Europe. The aim of STEC is to develop these
contacts into long standing collaborations and common scientific
programs in the future.
The second objective of this project is
to increase the capacity of experience and intellectual potential in
improving the knowledge concerning the handling of progenitor cells
through the exchange of the scientists, organizing meetings, symposia,
conferences and workshops. The aim of STEC is to strengthen the
collaboration with participating European partners. We plan to exchange
expertise in the field of stem cell isolation, expansion and
plasticity. This will be accomplished by the exchange of scientists who
will visit scientific centres participating in this program.
STEC will also create a unique
opportunity for young scientists from Poland to learn new techniques,
particularly in the field of molecular biology. The progress in stem
cell research is a result of the modern techniques in studying the
expression of gene profiles in stem/progenitor cells, as well as in the
strategies aimed to identify gene products - proteins
expressed/secreted by these cells. Scientists from European Community
Countries participating in STEC will help young scientists from Poland
to learn these techniques and to establish similar laboratories in
their home institutions.
STEC will play an important role in
integrating the intellectual effort of participating members in various
aspects of stem cell plasticity and their application in the clinic.
This will allow for the development of new therapeutic strategies,
which may be a real breakthrough in the clinic.
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