Stem Cell Centre

Research Centre

Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine

Stem cells are widely regarded as the future of regenerative medicine. The centre uses stem-cell science to understand disease and develop novel cell-based therapies through translational research — including basic science, animal models and clinical trials.

The department is headed by Dr P.M. Sunil, a fellow in Regenerative Medicine from the University of Toronto, McMaster University and the University of Ottawa, with additional training at Utrecht University, Netherlands.

Goals

4 research themes

Ongoing

7 active projects

Completed

6 studies

Focus

Translational & regenerative

Purpose

Goals

Establish teams of scientists to work in specific themes directed at addressing unmet healthcare needs through carefully directed translational research.
Create cellular and animal models of diseases to test hypotheses generated from understanding of those diseases and of stem-cell biology.
Perform early-phase clinical trials with stem cells manufactured under current good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions.
Develop a training programme for students and scientists who will contribute to the manpower required for this field in the country.

Research

Projects

Ongoing

Use of Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) and hydrogel on osteoarthritis (for cartilage defects).
Comparative study of Chithra HASi granules (hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphosilicate glass) and PRF in reconstruction of maxillary and mandibular benign cystic lesions.
Use of SVF in an indigenously developed cocktail for regeneration of spinal-cord injury model rats.
SVF and Chithra HASi granules in critical osseous defects in rats.
In vitro cytotoxic evaluation of flowable hyaluronic acid–acellular SVF (HAaSVF) for neural tissue engineering (collaboration with SCTIMST, Trivandrum).
Rheometric evaluation of flowable non-cross-linked plant-based hyaluronic acid (collaboration with VIT, Vellore).
Regenerative endodontic procedures.

Completed

Genetic changes in oral cancer stem cells — karyotyping and FISH.
Low-level laser therapy on dental pulp stem cells for osteogenic differentiation.
Clinical applications of PRF and PRP in dentistry, dermatology and orthopaedics.
Isolation, characterisation and enumeration of dental pulp stem cells (permanent and deciduous).
Dental pulp stem-cell banking using reversible hydrogel.
Reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects with autologous bone-marrow stem cells and autogenous bone grafts.

People