The Stem cell research group is working on exploitation of regenerative potential of adult stem cells from different sources for the repair of damaged organs, predominantly skin (burns, diabetic wounds, aging associated wounds), liver (fibrosis and cirrhosis), cartilage (Osteoarthritis), Spinal cord (Paralysis) eye (accidental damage/ retinitis pigmentosa) and pancreas (diabetes). Stem cells group has worked with multiple rodent and human tissue derived cells including bone marrow, keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, hepatocytes, endothelial progenitor cells, adipose and lipoaspirate, cardiomyocytes, umbilical cord blood, Wharton’s jelly of umbilical cord, and amniotic membrane. The group is exploiting the regeneration potential of stem cells isolated from these sources for repair of afore mentioned disease conditions mainly in chemical and surgically induced animal disease models. Stem cells are used in combination with chitosan hydrogels, platelet rich plasma, amniotic membrane, silk fibroin scaffolds. Further stem cells are modulated by priming and or supplementation of antioxidants, phytoextracts, and growth factors for improving their therapeutic efficacy via improved paracrine, homing, survival, chemotaxis functions within the oxidative stressed conditions of above-mentioned disease environments.  Invitro differentiation techniques are also employed for pluripotency assessment of cells. The efficacy of cell transplantations is adjudged by gene and protein expression analysis of the regenerated tissues via Real time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistology techniques (HE, Sirius red staining, Picosirius staining, immunohistochemistry). The group has also generated induced pluripotent stem cells from dermal fibroblasts and cultures fibroblasts of genetic disease patients (intellectual disability) for further iPSCs production and disease modeling assays

Stem cells group is also working on clinical application (clinical trials) of stem cells and processed amniotic membrane for treatment of patients of skin reconstruction, diabetic wounds, ocular defects of retinitis pigmentosa and Covid 19. In this regard, clinical grade Wharton’s jelly and lipoaspirate stem cells are used per standard protocols for human application. Stem cells are characterized by Flow cytometry and quality tested for screening for any contamination.

Our group is also collaborating with different hospitals and universities which include Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Centre, University of Health Sciences, Ganga Ram Hospital, LRBT Eye Hospital, Ghurki teaching trust and MMT hospital.

Foreign collaborators include Leipzig university, Germany; University of Miami, John Hopkins and Temple University, USA