Comparative lessons in regenerative medicine readiness: learning from the UK and Japanese experience

Computational methods for biofabrication in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine - a literature review

This literature review rigorously examines the growing scientific interest in computational methods for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine biofabrication, a leading-edge area in biomedical innovation, emphasizing the need for accurate, multi-stage, and multi-component biofabrication process models. The paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric and contextual analysis, followed by a literature review, to shed light on the vast potential of computational methods in this domain. It reveals that most existing methods focus on single biofabrication process stages and components, and there is a significant gap in approaches that utilize accurate models encompassing both biological and technological aspects. This analysis underscores the indispensable role of these methods in understanding and effectively manipulating complex biological systems and the necessity for developing computational methods that span multiple stages and components. The review concludes that such comprehensive computational methods are essential for developing innovative and efficient Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine biofabrication solutions, driving forward advancements in this dynamic and evolving field.

Exploring the readiness of the Irish healthcare system to adopt advanced therapies: a scoping review protocol

Aim: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are medicines for human use that are based on genes, tissues or cells. They offer groundbreaking new opportunities for the treatment of disease and injury. However, ATMP adoption requires adjustments to current clinical practices and frameworks. This study investigates the readiness of the Irish healthcare system to adopt licensed ATMPs. Materials & methods: Scoping review, guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses - scoping review extension. A systematic search of English articles from 2013 to 2023 (published and grey literature) will be conducted.Results: Findings will be presented via narrative summary, graphical and tabular formats.Discussion: Review findings will be discussed in the context of recommendations that will inform national policy and strategy on the adoption of ATMPs in Ireland.

Infrastructuring precision medicine: Making gene therapies for rare diseases workable in practice

Long viewed by social scientists as a future imaginary, precision medicine is now materializing in many healthcare systems in the form of new diagnostic practices and novel treatment modalities, such as gene therapies. Based on an ethnographic study of the introduction of the first two clinically available in-vivo gene therapies in the Danish healthcare system, we investigate what it takes to make these therapies workable in practice. Drawing on social science literature on infrastructuring, we describe the many forms of mundane work required to fit these therapies into regulatory frameworks, political processes and daily work practices in the healthcare system. Further, we observe how the processes of infrastructuring required to introduce the gene therapies into clinical practice had transformative implications as they redistributed roles and responsibilities among clinicians, pharmacists, procurement agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Perspectives on Challenges to Cell Therapy Development in Taiwan: Strengthening Evidential Standards and Ways Forward

Over the past years, the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy has garnered much interest, extending beyond the bench to broader use, and commercialization. These therapies undergo stringent regulatory oversight as a result of their complexities and potential risk across different jurisdictions. Taiwan’s government, with the aim of developing the country as a hub for regenerative medicine in Asia, enacted a dual track act to promote the development of regenerative and cell therapy products. This qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit sixteen experts (Twelve respondents from medical institutions and four respondents from the industry) to understand their perspectives on one of the regulatory tracks which governs the medical use of cell technologies and challenges regarding its implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Perceptions of the “Special Regulation for Cell Therapy” 2) Emerging issues and controversies on the medical use of cell technologies in private clinics, and 3) Challenges impeding the clinical innovation of cell technologies. As reported by the experts, it was clear that the special regulation for cell therapy was aimed at legalizing the clinical use of cell therapy in a similar fashion to an evidence-based pathway, to promote clinical innovation, ensure manufacturing consistency, and improve oversight on cell-based therapies. Thus, the regulation addresses the issues of safety concerns, patient’s access and stem cell tourism. However, the limited approved cell techniques, quality control during cell processing, time, and criteria used in evaluating applications in addition to the need to develop evidential standards for clinical evidence are some of the difficulties faced. Thus, policy interventions on funding, educational resources, training, and regulatory clarity addressing these challenges may positively impact clinical innovation of cell therapy in Taiwan.

Advances in Use of Nanomaterials for Musculoskeletal Regeneration

Since the worldwide incidence of bone disorders and cartilage damage has been increasing and traditional therapy has reached its limits, nanomaterials can provide a new strategy in the regeneration of bones and cartilage. The nanoscale modifies the properties of materials, and many of the recently prepared nanocomposites can be used in tissue engineering as scaffolds for the development of biomimetic materials involved in the repair and healing of damaged tissues and organs. In addition, some nanomaterials represent a noteworthy alternative for treatment and alleviating inflammation or infections caused by microbial pathogens. On the other hand, some nanomaterials induce inflammation processes, especially by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, it is necessary to know and understand their effects in living systems and use surface modifications to prevent these negative effects. This contribution is focused on nanostructured scaffolds, providing a closer structural support approximation to native tissue architecture for cells and regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration, which results in cartilage and bone healing and regeneration.