Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Cell Biology and Therapy
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,
Introduction
The Cell Biology and Therapy module provides an advanced overview of cell-based
therapies for tissue regeneration, covering the main therapeutic cell populations, stem-cell
biology, differentiation, cell reprogramming and cell modification strategies. It also explores
the integration of cell therapy with bioengineering approaches, including biomaterials,
engineered microenvironments, secretome and extracellular-vesicle-based therapies.
Finally, the module addresses clinical translation and regulatory challenges through two
case studies focused on CAR-T cell therapy and the regulatory framework for advanced cell-
based therapies. The subject contributes to some of the 2030 Agenda Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs or ODS in Spanish). It contributes to the ODS nº3 (Good Health
and Well-being), ODS nº9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and ODS nº10 (Reduced
Inequalities).
Pre-course requirements
Students are expected to have previous knowledge of:
● Cell biology.
● Molecular biology.
● Basic stem-cell biology.
● Biomaterials and biocompatibility.
● Tissue engineering.
● Basic principles of regenerative medicine.
Objectives
The objectives of the subject are to:
1. Provide students with an advanced understanding of the biological principles
underlying cell-based therapies.
2. Explain the main cell populations used in cell therapy and regenerative medicine,
including their biological characteristics, sources and therapeutic potential.
3. Explain the mechanisms regulating stem-cell self-renewal, differentiation and cell
fate.
4. Present the main strategies used to control, modify and engineer cell behaviour for
therapeutic applications.
5. Explain the mechanisms through which therapeutic cells contribute to tissue
regeneration and repair, including cell replacement, paracrine signalling and
immunomodulation.
6. Introduce the integration of cell therapy with biomaterials and engineered cellular
microenvironments to improve therapeutic efficacy.
7. Present emerging cell-free therapeutic approaches, including secretome- and
extracellular-vesicle-based therapies.
8. Familiarise students with the clinical, safety and regulatory challenges associated
with advanced cell-based therapies.
9. Develop students' ability to analyse and discuss specific therapeutic and regulatory
cases involving advanced cell-based therapies.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Describe the advanced aspects of bioengineering related to human health based on specific books on the subject along with scientific publications at the frontier of knowledge.
- CN02 - Associate the existing variability in the expression of diseases and biological differences between sexes with the development of new therapeutic tools.
- CN06 - Identify the necessary steps and developments for the correct processing of medical devices based on available medical data.
- CP04 - Develop projects in the field of specific Bioengineering technologies of a professional nature, applying the competencies acquired during training and communicating these results in a public defense.
- HB01 - Differentiate new methods and theories in bioengineering to enhance versatility, adaptability to new situations, and problem-solving through critical reasoning.
- HB05 - Analyze the organization of a company considering labor regulations and the relationships between planning, industrial and commercial strategies, quality, and profit.
Learning outcomes of the subject
1. Compare the biological characteristics, therapeutic potential and limitations of the
main cell populations used in cell-based therapies.
2. Analyse the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating stem-cell self-renewal,
differentiation and cell fate in the context of tissue regeneration.
3. Evaluate different strategies for controlling and modifying cell behaviour for
therapeutic applications, including directed differentiation, cellular reprogramming
and genetic or non-genetic cell modification.
4. Analyse the main mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of transplanted
cells, including cell replacement, paracrine signalling, immunomodulation and
interactions with the tissue microenvironment.
5. Evaluate how biomaterials and engineered cellular microenvironments can be
integrated with cell therapy to improve cell survival, differentiation, delivery and
therapeutic functionality.
6. Compare conventional cell-based therapies with emerging cell-free approaches,
including secretome- and extracellular-vesicle-based therapies, considering their
therapeutic potential and limitations.
7. Analyse the clinical, safety and translational challenges associated with advanced
cell-based therapies.
8. Apply knowledge of cell biology, cell therapy, bioengineering and regulation to
analyse specific therapeutic and regulatory cases and justify appropriate solutions.
Syllabus
Unit 1. Introduction to Cell-Based Therapies
Fundamentals of cell therapy, regenerative medicine, therapeutic cell sources, mechanisms
of action, autologous and allogeneic therapies, clinical applications, and their main
advantages and limitations.
Unit 2. Stem Cells and Cellular Sources
Classification and sources of stem cells, including embryonic, adult, mesenchymal, induced
pluripotent and tissue-specific stem cells, together with their isolation, expansion,
maintenance, and therapeutic potential.
Unit 3. Stem-Cell Biology, Differentiation and Cell Engineering
Stem-cell self-renewal, differentiation and cell fate, cellular signalling and regulation, cell–cell
and cell–ECM interactions, directed differentiation, reprogramming, and genetic and non-
genetic cell engineering strategies.
Unit 4. Cell-Based Therapeutic Applications
Cell transplantation and tissue regeneration, immunomodulatory therapies, cell delivery and
engraftment, CAR-T and dendritic-cell therapies, clinical applications, safety, and limitations
of therapeutic cells.
Unit 5. Bioengineering Strategies for Cell Therapy
Integration of cell therapy with biomaterials, hydrogels and 3D environments, cell
encapsulation, engineered microenvironments, biofabrication and 3D bioprinting, and
strategies to improve therapeutic cell performance.
Unit 6. Cell-Free Therapies and Clinical Translation
Secretome and extracellular-vesicle-based therapies, their therapeutic potential and
limitations, manufacturing and quality control, safety, regulatory challenges, clinical
translation, and future perspectives.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The subject is a 3-ECTS theoretical module delivered through fully on-site teaching. The
teaching and learning activities are structured into two complementary methodologies:
1. Lectures provided by the teacher where the theoretical concepts related to cell
biology and cell-based therapies are going to be explained in English.
2. 2 case studies in which all the students are required to intervene and will be about
the theoretical concepts seen in class.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
First call:
Final Exam: 80% of the score
Case Study 1: 10% of the score
Case Study 2: 10% of the score
Second call: will follow the same assessment criteria as the first, but with no option for a
distinction.
Students who failed the subject in the first call will have the opportunity to resit a final exam.
In all scenarios, the written exam may include:
● multiple-choice questions;
● short-answer questions;
● conceptual questions;
● interpretation of therapeutic scenarios;
● application of concepts to specific cell therapy situations.
In addition, for multiple-choice questions with four possible answers, incorrect answers will
be penalised by 0.33 points when a correct answer is worth 1 point. For questions with five
possible answers, incorrect answers will be penalised by 0.25 points, in accordance with the
UIC teaching-guide instructions.
For the assessment of both case studies, the student’s participation in the class discussion
will be evaluated. This assessment will be carried out by the lecturer based on the number of
contributions and their relevance, as well as on the extent to which the student demonstrates
an understanding of the topic by being able to relate the theory to the specific case
presented. The student’s ability to link other cross-curricular knowledge and communicate it
effectively orally in the language in which the course is taught will also be assessed. Due to
the nature of the case study assessment, attendance on those days is compulsory in order
to receive a mark. If the student do not attend, the mark for that case study will be 0 points,
unless you provide a medical or family emergency justification that the lecturer considers
enough.
Important considerations:
1. Plagiarism, copying or any other action that could be considered cheating will result
in a zero for this assessment component. Doing so in exams will result in an
immediate fail for the module.
2. The assistance and participation in the lessons where the case studies are going to
be performed/evaluated is compulsory for passing the module.
3. The minimum mark to pass the subject is 5 out of 10. In addition, the average mark
for the exams must be 5 or higher in order to pass the module, regardless of the
other assessment activities.
4. No changes to the timetable, exam dates or the assessment system will be accepted.
5. Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or resitters will be subject to the same
conditions as all other students.
Bibliography and resources
● Stem Cells and Cell Therapy. Mohamed Al-Rubeai, Mariam Naciri. Springer
Netherlands (2013). ISBN: 9400771959, 9789400771956.
● Cell Therapy: Current Status and Future Directions. Dwaine F. Emerich, Gorka
Orive. Springer (2017). ISBN: 3319571532, 9783319571539.