Abstract:
The discovery of human leucocyte antigen (HLA), serological matching and HLA-typing techniques, combined with the development
of immunosuppressive medicines and improvements in infection control, have opened the way to cell, tissue and vascularised organ
transplantation. Since the early 1960s, more than a million haematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantations have been performed
worldwide to restore haematopoiesis and support immune system recovery after bone marrow ablation. HPC transplantation uses
minimally manipulated autologous or allogeneic cells to restore the homologous functions of bone marrow. Research in biological sciences
supported by new technologies is increasingly translated into therapeutic products intended to augment, repair, replace or regenerate genes,
cells, tissues, organs and metabolic processes in the body. These products are referred to as regenerative medicine therapies or advanced
therapy medicinal products, and include gene therapies, cell-based therapies and engineered tissue products.
