Cell and gene therapy: BRICS citizens are in for various technological upgrades.
According to the BRICS Manufacturing Working Group, which met in Centurion, South Africa, last week, the emerging block is exploring how to scale up modern solutions to old problems.
The aim is to improve BRICS citizens’ quality of life and enhance sustainability.
The meeting showcased some of the technologies being developed across the BRICS world. These projects aim to improve BRICS citizens’ living standards, reducing manufacturing costs and diminishing manufacturing waste.
Cell and gene therapy
Cell and gene therapy are cutting-edge medical approaches that involve using cells or genetic materials to treat or prevent diseases. These therapies have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to provide targeted, personalised treatments for various medical conditions.
While cell and gene therapy has been around for years, high costs make it inaccessible to the average person. The aim is to decentralise treatments to allow them to be done in the hospital where the patient is cared for.
This reduces transport costs and will make this lifesaving treatment faster and cheaper.
Cell Therapy
Cell therapy involves using live cells, either from a patient (autologous) or a donor (allogeneic), to treat or alleviate a disease. These cells are typically isolated, modified, and reintroduced into the patient’s body to replace damaged cells, stimulate repair, or enhance the immune system’s ability to fight the disease.
Types of Cell Therapy:
Stem cell therapy
This involves the use of undifferentiated cells (stem cells) that have the potential to differentiate into specialised cell types, aiding in tissue repair and regeneration.
CAR-T cell therapy
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s T cells to express a receptor that helps them recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
Tissue engineering
Combines cells with biomaterials to create artificial organs or tissues for transplantation or to study biological processes.
Gene therapy
Gene therapy involves modifying or replacing genes within a person’s cells to treat or prevent diseases caused by genetic abnormalities.
Types of gene therapy
Gene addition:
Introduces a functional gene copy to replace a faulty or missing gene.
Gene editing:
Precisely modifies genes within a person’s cells to correct genetic mutations, often using tools like CRISPR-Cas9.
Gene Silencing:
Reduces or suppresses the activity of specific genes associated with disease, for instance, in conditions where overexpression of a gene is detrimental.
Both cell and gene therapies hold promise for treating various conditions, including genetic disorders, certain types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, immune system disorders, and more.
They offer the potential for personalized treatments based on an individual’s genetic makeup.
While these therapies show potential, they also present safety, scalability and cost challenges. Ongoing research, clinical trials, and technological advancements are essential for addressing these challenges.
Also read: Cutting-edge technology sets the stage for BRICS infrastructure boom
