Webinar: Cell Therapies for COVID-19

“Potential COVID-19 Treatments Using Cell Therapies,” a webinar, ran live on July 7, 2020.  Dan Weiss, Chief Science Officer, ISCT and Professor, University of Vermont described why mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) might reduce the symptoms of Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome in Covid-19 patients.

Michael Matthey, MD and Carolyn M. Hendrickson, MD, MPH who are both at UCSF, presented the clinical perspective.  Dr. Matthay is an experienced ARDS expert and trial principal investigator for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (START)

Dr. Hendrickson is a lung expert, epidemiologist, and clinical trial physician for Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center’s Phase 2b Mesenchymal Stromal Cells For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (STAT).  Laertis Ikonomou, PhD (ISCT & Univ Buffalo), Mike Lehmicke (ARM), and Patricia J. Zettler, JD (OSU School of Law) discussed the ethical and safety concerns regarding companies and clinics promoting therapies outside of a recognized regulatory process.  The emphasis throughout was the importance of well-designed clinical trials and the regulatory pathway.

The webinar was co-sponsored by ISCT, ARM, and the Foundation for Cell & Gene Medicine.