Committee Mission
The mission of the Graft Processing and Cellular Therapies Committee is to recommend policies, programs, and actions pertaining to the handling of a harvested product, including: storage, preparation and manipulation, equipment, product transportation, and documentation within a cell processing center. This includes the conduct of individuals and processes related to these practices. The committee also focuses on cellular therapy, which is increasingly important in haemato-oncology, transplantation, and regenerative medicine, in relation to cellular product source, processing, and in the coming years, in relation to advanced therapeutic medicinal products.
Meetings & Teleconfereces
The group meets annually and by telephone conferences throughout the year.
Completed Projects
The Graft Processing & Cellular Therapy Committee participated in the following projects:
- Co-authored a manuscript on the WHO initiative, Medical Products of Human Origin (MPHO). The manuscript was ratified by WBMT, ISBT, International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation (ICCBBA), and The Transplant Society (TTS).
- Link to manuscript.
- Publication: Essential requirements for setting up a stem cell processing laboratory.
- Link to manuscript.
- In 2020 a position paper entitled “Unproven Cellular Therapies” was submitted to the WHO for endorsement. The information in the paper was assembled and reviewed by over 100 experts in the field of stem cell based therapies. The aim of the paper is to educate both the public and the medical community regarding the appropriate use of cellular therapy and the importance of engaging in clinical trials as most of these novel cellular therapies are still investigational products. Under Mickey Koh’s guidance and leadership a final version of the position paper was submitted to the WHO. Endorsement by the WHO is pending. Mickey Koh was invited to present his work on "unproven therapies" to the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards and Oversight of Human Genome Editing. This was followed by a discussion and interactive session with the panel on how Genome editing is within the remit of Unproven Therapies and the relevant points raised by the doucment prepared by WBMT. This was followed by work looking at various clinical scenarios worldwide involving human genome editing including unscrupulous entrepreneurs and Unproven Stem Cell Clinics.
Ongoing Projects
The Graft Processing & Cellular Therapy Committee continues to work on the following projects:
- Partner with the International Society of Cellular Therapy (ISCT) on the ISCT Presidential Task Force on the Use of Unproven Cellular Therapies.
- Survey of laboratory practices related to the use of non-cryopreserved autologous HCT products.
- The Graft Processing and Cellular Therapy Committee identified the following projects for action in 2023: • Create a list and map of cell processing laboratory facilities worldwide. • Collaborate with the EBMT Cellular Therapies Working Party and other organizations on a parallel project of clinical outcome of non-cryopreserved autologous HCT transplants. • Coordinate with FACT and the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and AHCTA Committee to introduce stepwise accreditation for laboratories (and transplant programs) in emerging regions under a joint International Accreditation Program.
Want to join us?
Send an e-mail to mail to mail@wbmt.org