Ichilov performs its first mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a child

This treatment was made possible thanks to the achievements of the Institute for advanced cell therapy, operating at the Ichilov medical center. The Institute has reached the stage of full GMP production of mesenchymal stem cells, which made it possible to perform their first clinical transplantation to a patient in the country.

The first transplant was carried out under the so-called “compassionate use” program for a child suffering from epidermolysis bullosa — a rare congenital hereditary skin disease. The condition is accompanied by severe pain, the formation of wounds and blisters even with the lightest touch, leads to serious functional impairments, and in some cases can be fatal at an early age.

The treatment was conducted in close collaboration between specialists from different fields. The project involved Prof. Ronit Alhasid, Head of the pediatric hematology and oncology department at the Dana-Dwek children’s hospital, as well as Dr. Liat Samuelov from the dermatology service.

The therapy was structured in stages: first, the patient undergoes a bone marrow transplant from a donor, followed by three courses of stem cell therapy obtained from the same donor.

The mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and produced under GMP conditions at the Institute for advanced cell therapy (I-ACT). This became the first cell-based treatment for epidermolysis bullosa in Israel and, in fact, one of the first such clinical cases outside the United States.

You can learn more about the treatment of children using both conventional and innovative approaches at the following link. Send your medical documentation, and the clinic’s specialists will respond within 24–48 hours.