Stem Cells Research Unit

Stem Cells Research Unit

Stem cell research laboratory with microscopes, benchtop equipment and a biosafety cabinet.
Portrait accompanying Dr Ahmed Al-Hakami’s unit profilePortrait accompanying Dr Harish’s unit profile

 

Professor Ahmed AlHakami 

 Dr Harish Chinna Konda Chandramoorthy

Unit Governance and Administration   - KKU Central Labs

Vision

To establish and maintain a world-class stem cell research facility in the Middle East and strive to be recognized as one of the leading stem cell research centers worldwide.

Mission

To introduce cutting-edge stem cell technology and models of cell therapy to our scientific community by providing opportunities for research, teaching, learning, work and publication.

Goals and Objectives

  • Establish a full-fledged, accredited and operational stem cell research center as soon as possible, with basic / advanced central equipment and an animal surgical facility.
  • Seek national and international funding to promote high-caliber basic, biomedical and translational stem cell research.
  • Raise public awareness of stem cell research and therapeutic applications.
  • Guide the local scientific community in research and development, including project preparation, fundraising and related activities.
  • Establish a working model of a cell therapy center on the premises of the new university hospital.

Department Quality Policy

College of Medicine has quality management system under the umbrella of The Vice-Deanship of Academic Development and Quality. The Deanship endures for continuous improvement in order to ensure high-quality education and research which is followed by Stem Cell Unit.  Deanship’s quality committee is responsible to adopt quality measures (development, monitor, ensure) for maintaining sustainable quality for entire medical college. Periodic evaluation of research under the program and its impact, by the faculty, student and other stakeholders contribute to the quality system.

Major strategies and its measurable indicators

Goals and Objectives

Major Strategies

Measurable Indicators

Establish a full-fledged, accredited functional stem cell research center at the earliest with basic / advanced central equipment & animal surgical facility.
  • Use of stem cell center to teach students cutting edge technologies use full for their post-graduation and fellowships.
  • Accreditation will offer international ethical research platform to all the researchers of King Khalid University.
  • Inclusion of research in the curriculum makes use of stem cell unit to meet the national goals.
  • Accreditation report
  • Advance equipment available in the unit
  • List of staff members/students working in the facility in each academic year
To aim on national and international funding to promote high caliber basic, biomedical & translational stem cell research
  • Being competent by securing high class university/ research center collaborations.
  • Allow the faculty members and students to get involved in research/projects for benefit of community.
  • Research projects submitted for funding.
  • Number of national/international universities collaborated
Create awareness among commoner on the stem cell research and therapeutic application.
  • Offer short term courses to the private / public sector
  • Offering community services
  • Proportion of full time/volunteering faculty members actively engaged in community service activities through stem cell unit
To guide the local scientific community in research and development  leading to project preparation, fund raising etc
  • Giving optimal working environment to staff and students who will volunteer to work on research.
  • Guidance will be provided on technical aspects, manuscript preparation, research proposals and grants
  • Ongoing research progress report
  • Number of papers published by staff member/students
  • Number of conference  presentations
To establish a working model of cell therapy center at new university hospital premises
  • Study the feasibility of cord blood bank and marrow processing facility
  • Feasibility report from the pilot study

List of Publications

  • Alhazzani A, Rajagopalan P, Albarqi Z, Devaraj A, Mohamed MH, Al-Hakami A, Chandramoorthy HC. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Coculture Protects [Ca2+]i Orchestrated Oxidant Mediated Damage in Differentiated Neurons In Vitro. Cells. 2018 Dec 6;7(12):250. doi:10.3390/cells7120250 Impact 4.82
  • Chandramoorthy HC, Bajunaid AM, Kariri HN, Al-Hakami A, Sham AA, Al-Shahrani MBS, Al-Humayed SM, Rajagopalan P. Feasibility of cord blood bank in high altitude Abha: preclinical impacts. Cell and Tissue Banking. 2018 Sep;19(3):413–422. doi:10.1007/s10561-018-9687-0 Impact 1.331
  • Chandramoorthy HC, Al-Hakami A, Sham AA. Umbilical cord blood leptin concentration - What does it imply? KKU Journal of Medical Sciences. 2017;2(1):9–14. doi:10.4103/1658-743x.291937
  • Harish C Chandramoorthy, Ahmed Al-Hakami, Ahmed Alrabai, Hussian Nasser Kariri, Abdulaziz Alamri, Ashish Varma, Prasanna Rajagopalan. Viable CD34+ along with TNC microenvironment are prerequisite for CBT- A worldwide experience.  KKU Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2018 Accepted (In Press).
  • Chandramoorthy HC, Bin-Jaliah I, Karari H, Rajagopalan P, Ahmed Shariff ME, Al-Hakami A, Al-Humayad SM, Baptain FA, Ahmed HS, Yassin HZ, Haidara MA. MSCs ameliorates DPN induced cellular pathology via [Ca2+]i homeostasis and scavenging the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 2018 Feb;233(2):1330–1341. doi:10.1002/jcp.26009 Impact 4.08
Collage of laboratory rooms and equipment in the Stem Cells Research Unit.