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ISCT: The Professional Organization for those Working in Cell-based Research and Therapy
Established in 1992, International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), formerly International Society for Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering (ISHAGE), is a non-profit professional organization for those working or interested in technical and educational information on cellular therapy and graft engineering including various types of cell-based research, cell processing and manipulation, and clinical translation. Currently, ISCT has over 1100 members and is growing internationally with membership in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa. It provides communication, discussion, education, and training regarding recent developments and regulatory aspects of cell, tissue, and gene therapies. The ISCT mandate includes work in the following areas:
Cord blood, Ex vivo expansion, Gene therapy, Graft evaluation, Immunotherapy and dendritic cells, Nonhematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells, Transplantation, Tumor evaluation, Legal and regulatory affairs.
ISCT represents its membership to other professional organizations and regulatory bodies; and is one of the two founding members of FAHCT, the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapies, which helps satisfy FDA requirements for the regulation of the field in North America. FACT is a non-profit corporation developed for the purposes of self-assessment and accreditation in the field of hematopoietic cell therapy, and has established standards for the provision of quality medical and laboratory practices in hematopoietic cell transplantation; conducts inspections, and accreditation programs that encourage health institutions and facilities performing hematopoietic cell transplantation to voluntarily meet these standards; and recognizes compliance with standards by issuance of Certificates of Accreditation (http://www.factwebsite.org). A similar effort is underway in Europe: the Joint Accreditation Committee EBMT-EuroISHAGE (JACIE) program of accreditation was established in 1999, with the aim of creating a standardized system of accreditation officially recognized across Europe. Based on the American accreditation standards as outlined by FAHCT, the JACIE program is the result of a common European effort that will eventually substitute the current EBMT accreditation system. This accreditation process is centralized, in order to maintain the same strictness, criteria and standards in different European countries.
In addition to an annual scientific conference and Internet Web Site, ISCT holds several workshops throughout the year to facilitate communication, education and training in performance of collaborative scientific studies, development and validation of standardized technology. Examples include ‘Somatic Cell Therapy Symposium’, ‘Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases’, and ‘Safeguarding Adult and Pediatric Stem Cell Donors.’ These educational materials are designed to expose attendees to the knowledge of a diverse group of authors with experience in industry and hospital-based cell engineering laboratories. The sample procedures provided are designed to provide examples of good manufacturing practices (GMP) for facilities and individuals performing hematopoietic cell transplantation and therapy, or providing support services for such procedures. These samples are not intended to include all of the procedures and practices that a facility or individual should implement if the standard of practice in the community or federal or state laws or regulations establish additional requirements. However, these are still useful in gaining information about GMP principles and how they can be applied in regional laboratories.
ISCT communicates with its membership via its official journal, the Telegraft, by providing current information on new developments, items of interest, grant applications, regulatory updates, and contact information. Special issues are also published as required to cover developments of particular importance or interest to the membership. Additionally, Cytotherapy is the official journal of ISCT, whose scope includes research in stem cell processing and transplantation, cancer, stem cell plasticity, autoimmune diseases, immunotherapy, gene therapy and other cell-based therapies of malignant and non-malignant blood diseases.
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