-
Our Research and Approach
Sidra ACTC is an integrated core facility that hosts a Stem Cell Program for cell, gene therapy and regenerative medicine entailing facilities, clinical grade equipment, laboratories for Research & Development, clean rooms and laboratories for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to scale up to clinical production. Clean rooms and GMPs are based on non-conventional high-tech modular systems unique in the Gulf and can dynamically adapt to new future requirements.Activities currently range from Hematopoietic Stem Cells processing, as part of the Bone Marrow Transplantation clinical program, to several projects of cell therapy (i.e. production of mesenchymal stromal cell from different sources), gene therapy (i.e. anti-tumor engineered Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells) and regenerative medicine (i.e. production of platelet rich plasma, platelet rich fibrin, adipose-derived stem cells and cell-drug codelivery).ACTC aims to follow international standards and guidelines (ISO9001, GMP, JACIE-FACT) for the safe delivery of ACTs to patients.Research interests on:• Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (deep phenotyping, secretome, lipidomics and metabolomics, etc.);• Anti-tumor engineered Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells;• Pediatric leukemia (phosphoFlow cytometry, epigenetics and pharmacogenomics);• Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (genetic and epigenetic make-up);• Graft-versus-host disease. -
Lab Members
Sara Deola, MD, PhD Principal Investigator
Email: sdeola (@) sidra.org
Cristina Maccalli, PhD
Principal Investigator
Email: cmaccalli (@) sidra.org
Massimino Miele, BSc
Lab Manager
Email: mmiele (@) sidra.org
Rita Calzone, MSc
Research Specialist
Email: rcalzone (@) sidra.org
Che-Ann Lachica, BSc
Research Specialist
Email: clachica (@) sidra.org
Sheanna Marie Herrera, MSc
Research Specialist
Email: sherrera (@) sidra.org
Asma Al-Sulaiti, BSc
Research Specialist
Email: aalsuilaiti1 (@) sidra.org
Moza Al- Khulaifi, BSc
Research Specialist
Email: malkhulaifi (@) sidra.org
Heba Sidahmed, MBBs,MRCs
Post-Doctoral fellow
Email: hsidahmed (@) sidra.org
Giusy Gentilcore, PhD
Research Specialist
Email: ggentilcore (@) sidra.org
Bella Guerrouahen, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow (grant-funded position)
Email: bguerrouahen (@) sidra.org
Saad Rasool, BSc
Research Specialist (grant-funded position)
Email: srasool(@) sidra.org
Shilpa Ravindran, MSc
Research Specialist (grant-funded position)
Email: sravindran(@) sidra.org
Muhammad Elnaggar, MD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Email: melnaggar (@) sidra.org
Dhanya Kizhakayil, PhD
Research Specialist
Email: dkizhakayil (@) sidra.org
Anjud Al-Mohannadi, MSc
Research Specialist
Email: aalmohannadi2 (@) sidra.org
Advanced Cell Therapy Core — A.C.T.C.
Chiara Cugno, MD Director – Advanced Cell Therapy Core (ACTC)
Attending Physician – Pediatric Oncology and Hematology