The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy is active, both in the implementation of approved cell and gene therapies, as well as in clinical research with the design of its own clinical protocols of pioneering therapies.

With the acquisition of the CliniMACS-Prodigy device, cell therapies which are recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of resistant viral infections after transplantation can be performed in our country as well. More particular, specific cells (antigenic) against CMV, EBV, ADV, and BK viruses can be isolated from healthy donors and be given to young patients resulting in the eradication of the disease. The first cell therapy was successfully performed on 22/5/2020 and involved a 4-year-old patient with lymphoperplastic disease related to the Epstein Barr (EBV) virus.

In addition to antigen-specific cells for the treatment of specific infections, a clinical study will soon be launched at the center to assess the effectiveness of treatment for genetically modified T-lymphocytes (CAR-T), which will be produced and multiplied on the CliniMACS-Prodigy device.The Center is also involved in international multicenter studies on gene therapy for β-Thalassemia.

The Center for Cellular and Genetic Therapy conducts translational research in cutting-edge areas, such as Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Immunotherapy.In the field of Regenerative Medicine, the scientific team of the Center has many years of experience in creating induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and has already developed in vitro models for the study of genetic diseases of childhood, which have been published in international scientific journals.Pre-clinical study of the differentiation of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into hematopoietic and mesenchymal ancestral cells is the next primary target of the center. The results of these studies will contribute to the development of clinical studies of cell and gene therapy for specific diseases.In the field of Cellular Immunotherapy, the Center is active in the development of pre-clinical models of immunotherapy for resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia with genetically modified T-lymphocytes of double hybrid receptors (CAR-CD19-leukemia-CD22), through which malignant leukemic cells will be recognized and killed. Also, the application of the method of cellular electroporation for the creation of CAR-T lymphocytes, is the subject of study at the laboratory level.

Scientific Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy is Evgenios Goussetis, MD, PhD, Pediatric Hematologist – Oncologist, Director at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, of the Pediatric Oncology Unit “Marianna Vardi Vardinogianni – ELPIDA”.

Anastasia Makris, Biochemist PhD 

Eftychia Petrakou, Biologist PhD

CHILDREN’S ONCOLOGY UNIT

“MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS – ELPIDA”

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy

Center Activities

The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy is active, both in the implementation of approved cell and gene therapies, as well as in clinical research with the design of its own clinical protocols of pioneering therapies.

With the acquisition of the CliniMACS-Prodigy device, cell therapies which are recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of resistant viral infections after transplantation can be performed in our country as well. More particular, specific cells (antigenic) against CMV, EBV, ADV, and BK viruses can be isolated from healthy donors and be given to young patients resulting in the eradication of the disease. The first cell therapy was successfully performed on 22/5/2020 and involved a 4-year-old patient with lymphoperplastic disease related to the Epstein Barr (EBV) virus.

In addition to antigen-specific cells for the treatment of specific infections, a clinical study will soon be launched at the center to assess the effectiveness of treatment for genetically modified T-lymphocytes (CAR-T), which will be produced and multiplied on the CliniMACS-Prodigy device.The Center is also involved in international multicenter studies on gene therapy for β-Thalassemia.

Research

The Center for Cellular and Genetic Therapy conducts translational research in cutting-edge areas, such as Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Immunotherapy.In the field of Regenerative Medicine, the scientific team of the Center has many years of experience in creating induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and has already developed in vitro models for the study of genetic diseases of childhood, which have been published in international scientific journals.Pre-clinical study of the differentiation of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into hematopoietic and mesenchymal ancestral cells is the next primary target of the center. The results of these studies will contribute to the development of clinical studies of cell and gene therapy for specific diseases.In the field of Cellular Immunotherapy, the Center is active in the development of pre-clinical models of immunotherapy for resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia with genetically modified T-lymphocytes of double hybrid receptors (CAR-CD19-leukemia-CD22), through which malignant leukemic cells will be recognized and killed. Also, the application of the method of cellular electroporation for the creation of CAR-T lymphocytes, is the subject of study at the laboratory level.

Department Staff

Scientific Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy is Evgenios Goussetis, MD, PhD, Pediatric Hematologist – Oncologist, Director at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, of the Pediatric Oncology Unit “Marianna Vardi Vardinogianni – ELPIDA”.

Anastasia Makris, Biochemist PhD 

Eftychia Petrakou, Biologist PhD

Contact Information

CHILDREN’S ONCOLOGY UNIT

“MARIANNA V. VARDINOYANNIS – ELPIDA”

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy