1st investigator’s meeting held at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden 2nd meeting & Translational research in OI and cell therapy workshop

On 6th and 7th of February 2019 Center for Stem cell Research and Paediatric orthopedic Unit at CMC Vellore conducted a meet on Translational Research in Osteogenesis Imperfecta & Cell Therapy. Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a disease in which the individual has weak brittle bones which fracture easily as a result of these multiple fractures that occur throughout childhood children become deformed and often not able to walk. In addition, they also do not attain normal growth and Height. The project called ‘BOOST to Brittle Bones’ is funded by DBT in India and Vinnova in Sweden under a collaborative international program and is carried out jointly by CMC Vellore and Karolinska University. The meeting was jointly organized by Professor Vrisha Madhuri from CMC Vellore and Cecilia Götherström of Karolinska Sweden. It comprises of a clinical trial which looks at the safety and efficacy of transplanting mesenchymal stem cells in the affected children. There are only a handful of OI cases treated in this manner around the world and a similar trial is about to begin in Europe.The 2-day symposium focussed on current concepts, molecular genetics, clinical management and newer treatment strategies of Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The speakers were renowned geneticists, Endocrinologists, Hemato-oncologists, radiologists, Occupational and physiotherapists, Orthopaedicians and scientists working in the field of Osteogenesis Imperfecta and cell and gene therapy. The meeting brought out the most recent trends in the diagnosis and management of osteogenesis imperfecta including newer management using bisphosphonates and cell therapies and the best practices in the molecular diagnosis, radiological and bone density assessment, surgery, and rehabilitation. The second-day workshop is on “Current regulatory and ethical requirements for conducting cell therapy-based clinical trials” where the best practices in this field in India, USA, and Europe will be discussed and changing scenario in the regulatory field in India was discussed.Speakers who excel in the field of Osteogenesis Imperfecta and cell therapy from US, UK, Australia, and Europe in addition to Indian scientists, clinicians, industry partners, and regulators participated in these deliberations which allowed us to compare and learn from the best practices in this field in the world.