Naval Medical Center San Diego Makes History as First DoD Medical Facility to Perform Allogeneic Stem Cell Infusion on a Patient 

In August, the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) performed their first allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell infusion on a patient—the first ever performed at a U.S. military treatment facility. The procedure, led by U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Trafeli, MD, FAAD, division head for dermatology research and head of training and research for Project CARE (Comprehensive Advanced Restorative Effort) at NMCSD, is designed to address skin damage. The first patient enrolled in the study is a retired U.S. Navy veteran with skin damage from years of exposure to the sun.

The procedure marked the beginning of a stem cell clinical trial at NMCSD that Navy physicians believe could lead to greater possibilities in using regenerative medicine for patients for a variety of conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, musculocutaneous injury, and even dental disease.

The infusions involve the venous injection of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which are derived from the bone marrow of non-fetal human tissue provided by an adult donor other than the patient. The cell type NMCSD has chosen is unique because they are grown under hypoxic conditions at 5% oxygen, and are therefore designated ischemia-tolerant MSCs (itMSC). The itMSCs secrete a unique profile of stem cell factors and other important proteins, which preclinical data indicates may contribute to improved homing and engraftment of the cells compared to MSCs grown under higher oxygen concentrations.

The clinical trial is the result of a research and development agreement between Naval Medical Center San Diego and StemCutis LLC. The itMSCs are manufactured by a government-licensed current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) facility in California and are under exclusive license to StemCutis for skin conditions.

For more information about NMCSD’s stem cell research trial, contact NMCSD Public Affairs at usn.nmcsd-pao@mail.mil.