Ministry of Health – Bach Mai Hospital Cooperates on Research into and Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Treating Cirrhosis and Musculoskeletal Diseases

T5g.org.vn – On 16 September, Bach Mai Hospital and the Mescells | MSC Specialized Healthcare System for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy signed a cooperation agreement on research into and application of mesenchymal stem cells in clinical treatment. Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Training (Ministry of Health), attended and witnessed the signing ceremony.

The cooperation agreement aims to put the direction for developing cell technology into practice, from research and process standardization to step-by-step clinical application, while opening up a public-private cooperation model in regenerative medicine and cell therapy in Vietnam.

Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate in researching and developing cell products and in preparing the scientific and legal dossiers and other conditions needed to conduct clinical trials in accordance with regulations. They will also cooperate in training, exchange experts, develop technical procedures and carry out applied research on cell technology solutions suited to practical needs.

Delegates witness the signing ceremony between the Mescells|MSC Specialized Healthcare System for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy and Bach Mai Hospital.

Notably, the Ministry of Health guides and encourages Bach Mai Hospital to cooperate in research and clinical trials of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for a number of indications, including the treatment of cirrhosis/compensated cirrhosis and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as research on the prevention and control of rejection in patients after organ transplantation.

Towards bringing cell technology into clinical practice

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Tung, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that gene therapy and stem cells form one of six important pillars in the hospital’s development direction for 2025–2030, as approved by the Ministry of Health. Cooperation with Mescells|MSC is regarded as a milestone in advancing this pillar.

According to Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Tuan Tung, Bach Mai Hospital not only performs its duty as a last-line hospital for examination and treatment but also attaches importance to developing science and technology, training and scientific research. The hospital aims to put advanced technologies, including cell technology, at the service of patients at an early stage.

“The highest goal of this partnership is to give patients access to cell and cell technology services during the course of their treatment,” Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Tuan Tung said. He also hoped that cooperation between the two sides would not stop at research but would move step by step into clinical practice once all scientific, safety and legal requirements are met.

Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Training, Ministry of Health, speaking at the event.

Mescells|MSC Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu Hien said the organization sees cooperation with Bach Mai Hospital as a connection between the clinical capacity of a last-line hospital and technological and research capacity in the field of cell technology.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Chairwoman of the Mescells|MSC Specialized Healthcare System for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy, speaking at the event.

In particular, Mescells|MSC takes a special interest in research into and application of cell technology in liver diseases, above all cirrhosis. The aim of the cooperation is to transfer techniques step by step, build capacity and bring cell technology processes and products into clinical use once all scientific, safety and legal requirements are met.

Ensuring safety and regulatory compliance

Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang said that cell technology is one of three strategic technologies assigned to the health sector for implementation, with the aim of creating safe and effective products, methods and techniques for treatment.

The Ministry of Health has issued guidance documents so that units can draw up implementation plans in accordance with regulations, and has reviewed and appraised the laboratory, cell bank and capacity of Mescells|MSC.

After the signing ceremony, the units were asked to continue standardizing their clinical trial management systems. Bach Mai Hospital needs an official focal point to direct and manage the work and ensure compliance with the law. For its part, Mescells|MSC needs to complete its system of quality management documentation for cell products, working towards GMP and TCVN standards, to ensure safety in clinical application.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Tung, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, speaking at the event.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Tung also hoped that domestic cell production technology would continue to be developed at a reasonable cost, thereby widening patient access.

The cooperation between Bach Mai Hospital and Mescells|MSC is therefore set on a path from research and trials through standardization to clinical application, with the immediate focus on research into mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of cirrhosis and musculoskeletal diseases.

Source: T5G