UKRMP’s Immunomodulation Hub
Immunology of regenerative medicine: quick profile of the UKRMP’s Immunomodulation Hub
The UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (UKRMP) aims to tackle the technical and scientific challenges associated with moving regenerative medicine research and developments into the clinic. The Platform consists of five interdisciplinary research Hubs intended to address key translational challenges and provide new tools, protocols and resources that can be utilized by other UK research groups, in both academia and industry. One of these is the Immunomodulation Hub, which we would like to highlight, in line with Regenerative Medicine’s upcoming Special Focus Issue on ‘Immunological challenges and opportunities in regenerative medicine’.
Host response to cell therapies, etc. can greatly hinder the success of treatments and immunosuppressive drugs risk patients acquiring severe and potentially even fatal infections. Therefore, the Hub aims to address the immunological challenges within regenerative medicine by modulating different aspects of the immune system, in order to improve the effectiveness of regenerative medicine therapies.
With a mix of mix of clinical and nonclinical researchers from across the UK, working in various disciplines such as innate and adaptive immunity and whole organ transplantation, the Hub looks to have a huge impact on improved outcomes in regenerative medicine. Expected results include improved efficacy of photoreceptor cell therapy to treat blindness, improved repair of damaged heart tissue, and improved survival and functionality of transplanted hepatocytes as an alternative to liver transplantation. However, looking long term, understanding the immunology of regenerative medicine would have a huge impact on the field as a whole.
If you work within immunology and regenerative medicine, we would greatly appreciate your sharing what you are working on and your insights below!
For more information on the Special Focus Issue on ‘Immunological challenges and opportunities in regenerative medicine’ please read the Foreword free online ahead of print, and see the interview with Professor Paul Fairchild of Oxford University, UK.