Vice President of M.U.S.T., Chair Professor Paul Tam published a two-paper series on paediatric regenerative medicine in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health (Impact Factor: 37.75). Chair Professor Tam is an internationally world-renowned expert on difficult-to-treat paediatric diseases.
Vice President of M.U.S.T., Chair Professor Paul Tam
Regenerative medicine as a specialty includes the diagnosis and treatment using cutting-edge technologies such as stem cells, gene therapy, and artificial organs. Innovations in these areas have allowed us to understand more about, and potentially cure, paediatric diseases which are traditionally thought to be incurable.
The first article highlights the opportunities and challenges of regenerative medicine in the unborn foetus. This includes the use of foetal DNA which can be extracted from the mother to screen for genetic diseases such as those which may cause bone and muscle deformations. Delivery of genetically modified cells, or stem cells directly into the uterus may be used for the treatment of diseases such as haemophilia A (a blood clotting disease), osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as “brittle bone disease”), and others. The second article focuses on the clinical applications of engineered organs in the treatment of diseases which previously have required organ replacement. Exciting developments in patient derived organoids (miniature tissues grown from the patient’s own stem cells) have made possible personalised treatment tailored to the specific conditions of each patient.
The two-part series on paediatric regenerative medicine was published in Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
Vice President of M.U.S.T., Chair Professor Paul Tam, who is the lead and corresponding author of this two-part series says, “The successful and widespread clinical application of non-invasive prenatal screening, in utero delivery of gene or cell therapy and organ engineering represents the next significant frontier in regenerative medicine. Together with a group of world-leading experts and young researchers, we aspire to develop a world-class research centre at M.U.S.T. which will lead the way in cutting-edge medical research.” Professor Manson Fok, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine adds, “Chair Professor Paul Tam is an international expert in paediatric medicine. He highlights our ambition to take the lead in world-class medical research and producing high-calibre future doctors for Macao.”
The series in this press release can be accessed via:
https://www.thelancet.com/series/paediatric-regenerative-medicine