ECRRM

The Egyptian scientific team working on the Egyptian Genomics Project has published the first scientific paper in the journal “Nature Genetics”. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the history of scientific research in Egypt and a huge step towards making significant progress in public health for Egyptians. Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine serves as the administrative and technical center for the national project, with the participation of various Egyptian universities and research centers. The project has received significant support and attention from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasizing the national role in preserving the health of Egyptian citizens and developing the healthcare system. The project involves the analysis of the human genome of 100000 healthy Egyptians, along with 8000 Egyptians diagnosed with genetic diseases and 200 genomes from ancient Egyptian mummies from different eras. This project will provide the first comprehensive dataset of the human genome from Egypt and North Africa opening the door to new scientific discoveries and significant benefits in the field of medicine. The project aims to understand the unique genetic composition of the Egyptian population and identify the genetic factors that contribute to common diseases in Egypt such as heart disease diabetes, and cancer. This will facilitate early diagnosis more effective treatments and the development of new and more efficient therapies for genetic diseases affecting Egyptians. The project also involves studying the genetic changes in ancient Egyptian genes throughout history by examining the genomes of ancient Egyptians.

As part of the ECRRMs commitment to enhancing cooperation with Egyptian universities and raising awareness about the Egyptian Genomics Project a visit was organized for students from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Technology at Pharos University in Alexandria and students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at MSA University. Major General Dr. Mohamed El-Gohary the Deputy Director of ECRRM delivered a presentation to the students about the centers activities and its projects. A documentary film about the Egyptian Genomics Project was also screened. Brigadier Wael Ali the Director for Central Laboratories presented an overview of the sample collection process and the steps involved in their analysis. The staff members involved in these steps explained their roles in the project and the genomic studies. The students had the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification. They explored various aspects to consider in selecting their respective fields of specialization. This experience contributed to the development of their scientific thinking and the enhancement of their graduation projects. The students expressed their appreciation for the visit which helped them gain more knowledge about different fields of work and specializations.

Major General Dr. Amin Fouad Shaker, ECRRM Director, handed over the first batch of genomic test results of the Olympic Champions Genomics Project to the Minister of Youth and Sports. This occurred during a meeting between the Minister, the Director of the Center Dr. Kamal Darwish the head of the scientific committee for the project, committee members, Major General Dr. Khaled Amer the PI for the Egyptian Genome Project and Major General Dr. Tarek Taha the head of the Stem Cell Branch at the ECRRM along with a group of leaders from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Minister of Youth and Sports emphasized that this project aims to improve the performance of Egyptian athletes and achieve more achievements in various Olympic and non-Olympic sports by enhancing individual capabilities. The goal is to enhance the results of the participating athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and promote athlete health through the development of personalized training plans based on their genetic profiles and nutrition programs. This project will play a significant role in elevating athletes to a professional level with greater opportunities. Major General Dr. Amin Fouad Shaker expressed his pride in delivering the sports genomics results which are supported by the President of the Republic. This achievement required significant effort and hard work from the team to deliver the best outcomes for the state and Egyptian society.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine has presented a training program for Sports Genomics at the National Teams Training Center in Maadi. The program targets nutrition specialists and utilizes the results of genomic analysis to enhance athletic performance. The training aims to promote individual health and improve the health of athletes by enhancing athletic performance optimizing training planning and personalized nutrition. It provides specialized and effective healthcare in line with modern approaches in sports medicine. This is done to provide all available resources for sports development in Egypt and achieve sporting success for qualified athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The training was attended by Dr. Kamal Darwish the head of the scientific committee for the Sports Genomics Project committee members Major General Dr. Tarek Taha from ECRRM and a team from the center to provide the training. A group of Ministry of Youth and Sports leaders also attended it.

Continuing the Armed Forces commitment to developing a high-level medical education and rehabilitation system within the military medical facilities in collaboration with leading international institutions in various medical fields the Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine Center organized the medical conference titled "Scientific Day of Genomics" in its second edition. The conference was attended by Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research Health and Population Youth and Sports and Major General Dr. Khaled Shokry Director of the Armed Forces Medical Services Department. The conference commenced with a speech by Prof. Dr. Gina El-Feky Acting President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the projects funding entity highlighting that this project is the largest in the history of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. She expressed her happiness with its advanced progress and praised the centers leading role since signing the Egyptian Genome Project contract in March 2021. Major General Dr. Amin Fouad Shaker Director of the Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine Center delivered a speech conveying greetings and appreciation from General/ Mohamed Zaki Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Lieutenant General/ Osama Askar Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces emphasizing that the Genome Project is the largest scientific project in modern Egyptian history and is pivotal for personalized and precise medicine serving as the core of all medical research in the coming years. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy Minister of Youth and Sports spoke about the fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Defense in using sports genomics to select and enhance the performance of Egyptian sports champions in various sports. Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar Minister of Health and Population emphasized that implementing the Genome Project represents a monumental scientific breakthrough providing opportunities to study samples within Egypt and predict diseases affecting Egyptian society as well as finding solutions for them. Dr. Ayman Ashour Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research highlighted the importance of the conference in keeping pace with continuous development in advanced medical sciences particularly in the field of modern medicine such as personalized medicine. He praised the efforts of the Armed Forces Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine Center in accomplishing and continuously developing the project in collaboration with major universities and research centers. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs praised the role of the political leadership and its support for the project expressing support and pride in the technological and human capabilities of the center during his special visit. The conference included several scientific sessions and lectures by a selection of specialized experts to review the latest scientific advancements in genomics research. Several Armed Forces leaders a selection of professors and specialized experts in various medical fields from the Armed Forces Ministry of Health and Population presidents of universities deans of medical faculties and a number of foreign experts attended the conference.

In the context of the Armed Forces commitment to exchanging scientific expertise and supporting research activities between the military and various research institutions internally and externally to support the medical system and keep pace with scientific advancements in different medical and research fields the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Navy Medical Research Unit "NAMRU-3" in the field of studying endemic and infectious diseases. The aim is to achieve fruitful and constructive cooperation in implementing joint research projects between the two sides to contribute to the study of endemic and infectious diseases from an advanced scientific perspective aiming to improve health and preserve citizens safety. Major General Dr. Khaled Amer ECRRM Director delivered a welcoming speech expressing the General Command of the Armed Forces keenness to support the research field based on advanced scientific foundations in line with the vision of the modern Egyptian state to make a strong contribution to the development of the medical sector and healthcare. Colonel Virginia Blackman the Commander of the US Navy Medical Research Unit delivered a speech expressing her appreciation for the efforts of the Egyptian side in the scientific research system, which has witnessed significant development in recent times. She praised the cooperation between the two sides in providing comprehensive research studies through careful monitoring of endemic and infectious diseases. Major General Dr. Eid El-Taweel the Advisor to the Minister of Defense for Medical Education and Prosthetic Devices delivered a speech conveying greetings and appreciation from General Mohamed Zaki Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Minister of Defense and Military Production and General Osama Askar the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to the attendees. He emphasized the importance of cooperation and exchange of expertise between research institutions to develop the field of studying endemic and infectious diseases, understand their causes follow scientific principles to confront them and mitigate their risks. Several military leaders and officials from the US Navy Medical Research Unit "NAMRU-3" attended the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding.

In line with the directives of the General Command of the Armed Forces to achieve the highest international quality standards (ISO certifications) the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine obtained ISO certifications from the Accreditation Company FDI in October 2023. Intertek a UK-based company further endorsed these certifications. The center celebrated this achievement of acquiring the ISO certifications which include the Quality Management System (ISO 9001) Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001) for its Genomics Laboratory in the field of genome sequencing applications. This recognition is a testament to the centers advanced specialties and adherence to the highest global quality standards qualifying it to become a leader in various scientific research fields.

Egypt Center for Research & Regenerative Medicine participated in a conference with the Ministry of Youth and Sports where Dr. Ashraf Sobhy the Minister of Youth and Sports announced a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Defense represented by ECRRM and several specialized Egyptian universities in the medicine fields and sports science. The aim of this collaboration is to study and explore the best solutions for utilizing modern technology specifically Sports Genomics in the process of selecting and developing the performance of Egyptian sports champions in various disciplines which will be announced in the future. This meeting was attended by Major General Dr. Khaled Amer Director of ECRRM and Major General Dr. Tarek Taha Ali. The conference announced of the implementation of joint studies and research aimed at understanding the genetic aspects that influence athletic performance and physical capabilities of Egyptian athletes. The collaboration also aims to use modern technology particularly human genomics in the analysis and study of athletes genetic data. These studies will contribute to the process of selecting sports champions in Egypt and will work towards developing Egyptian sports and raising the level of athletic performance in the country playing an important role in achieving better results in local and international sports competitions.

Major General Dr. Bahaa El-Din Zidan, head of the Unified Procurement Authority visited the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine booth during his personal tour to visit the participating booths at the " Africa Health" African Medical Exhibition and Conference's second edition. He knew more about the center's activities inside the booth and Dr. Bahaa praised the center s efforts and distinguished role in scientific research and national projects. Dr. Bahaa emphasized the importance of developing and updating medical research in Egypt and the Arab world and supporting specialized scientific and technological centers in this field. This event is part of the "Africa Health" African Medical Exhibition and Conferences second edition which is one of the most important medical platforms on the African continent. It hosts a diverse range of medical and health institutions and medical device manufacturing companies from around the world. The exhibition and conference provide an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and knowledge and communicate with experts and specialists in the fields of medicine and health. It also helps to enhance international cooperation and partnerships in this important field.

Egypt Center for Research Regenerative Medicine participated in the second edition of the Africa Health African Medical Exhibition and Conference organized by the Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority from 7 to 9 June 2023 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. The center's booth witnessed a significant attendance of visitors and public figures during the events of the Africa Health conference. The Booth was organized in a distinctive interactive manner showcasing the latest research and developments on the Egyptian Genome project. The Booth also included a documentary film about the project. Major General Dr. Khaled Amer chief executive officer of the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine give a lecture entitled The Egyptian Genome Project Updates during the conference. He presented the steps taken in the genome project and some of the results published in research. Professor Dr. Neveen Soliman the head of the scientific committee for the genome project also participated in the lecture and presented the developments of the project especially in rare diseases Another lecture was held entitled ECRRM'S Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center Updates Major General Dr. Khaled Amer Major General Dr.Tarek Taha Head of the Stem Cell Branch and Professor Osama Azmy aresearch professor at the center presented the center's establishment and buildings departments and ongoing projects related to stem cells and research ethics in this field. The researcher at the center Taka Abdel Rahman Ahmed presented a poster entitled Generation of Lung Spheroids: A Novel Non-Invasive Approach for Studying the Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Intervention of COVID-19 and Other Lung Diseases in the competition at the "Africa Health" conference and won second place. The number of projects participating in this competition was nine projects.

As part of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the President of the Republic of Egypt the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to implement the Egyptian Reference Genome Project announced in March 2021. The Armed Forces participated in the medical conference First Genome Day as a celebration for launching the genome project for two years in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and the corporate sponsorship of Illumina. The conference began with a speech by Major General Dr. Khaled Amer chief executive officer of the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine ECRRM alongside the Egyptian Armed Forces conveying the greetings and appreciation of General Mohamed Zaki the commander for the Egyptian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense and Military Production and Lieutenant General Osama Askar the president of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to the audience confirming that the Egypt Genome Project Is the most prominent scientific project to take place in the history of Modern Egypt and will be the foundation of personalized and precision medicine and the pillar of all medical research during the next upcoming years. Sir Magdy Yacoub the international cardiac surgeon also indicated that the implementation of the genome project is a huge scientific breakthrough and that the project is a beacon for all researchers interested in genome research and provides an opportunity to study samples inside Egypt. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Awad Taj El-Din Advisor to the President of the Republic of Health and Prevention Affairs delivered a speech in which he indicated that the Genome Project aims to draw a reference genetic map for Egyptians to treat various diseases and identify genetic factors affecting the response to the causes of epidemics. It also aims to study the reference genome of ancient Egyptians and their genes related to some common diseases in Egypt such as cardiac neoplastic and hereditary diseases. The conference was attended by Major General Dr. Eid Al-Taweel Advisor to the Minister of Defense for Medical Education and Prosthetic Devices a number of commanders of the armed forces and a number of university professors in various medical institutions.

The Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine in cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and Knowledge E organized a workshop in December for researchers who are a part of the Egyptian Genome Project at the Center researchers from various Egyptian universities and research centers with the University of Exeter held at the Military Medical Academy entitled Methods of Analyzing and Interpreting Genomic Data. The workshop was presented by Dr. Emma Babel Senior Lecturer in Genomic Medicine at the University of Exeter and Consultant Clinical Genetics and Prof. Anna Murray Professor of Human Genome at the University of Exeter and Dr. Joseph Leslie is a researcher in the genetics of rare diseases at the University of Exeter. The workshop was aimed at professional development and covered various techniques and resources for analyzing genetic test results using a multidisciplinary and interactive approach. The participants learned more about different analysis tools and how to apply them to case-based variant analysis. The workshop also involved group discussions Q&As and interactive practical activities to help researchers develop their skills in their current work.

Under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi President of the Republic Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to implement the reference genome project for Egyptians announced in March 2021 the Armed Forces established the first biobank unit fully automated in Egypt and the Middle East and Africa region within the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine affiliated with the Armed Forces in cooperation with the German company Askion and the Egyptian company MiraLab. The importance of the biobank unit is its ability to preserve and store all types of samples used in scientific research for many years thereby facilitating the process of studying biological samples without concerns of damage. This new achievement is based on the political leadership's desire to upgrade the scientific research system in Egypt and the new Republic.

The Armed Forces signed the contract for the establishment of the International Research and Treatment Center for Stem Cells in cooperation between the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM) affiliated with the Armed Forces and SYMX in the framework of the General Command of the Armed Forces to support the medical system in order to contribute to the provision of advanced medical services in Egypt. The ceremony began with the speech of Major General Dr. Khaled Issa Amer chief executive officer of ECRRM during which he emphasized the importance of keeping up with scientific developments in stem cell research to provide an integrated medical system in line with the vision of the new republic. The center will be built using the latest stem cell and cellular therapy technology Mr. Andrew Ramos President of SYMX the executing company expressed his happiness in signing the contract noting the importance of the International Research and Treatment Center for Stem Cells in preparing and qualifying researchers and providing them with the right environment given the successive developments in the field of stem cells that have helped treat many diseases." The Acting Ambassador of the United States of America in Cairo Nicole Chambain stressed the depth of the relations between the two countries and that the implementation of this project is a reflection of the achievement of ongoing cooperation in the medical field between the two sides. Not only that but it also provides the center with employment opportunities and contribution to the development of the medical service provided in Egypt thanking the project's executors. Major General Dr. Mustafa Abu Hatab Advisor to the Minister of Defense for Medical Services delivered a speech conveying the greetings and appreciation of General Mohamed Zaki commander for the Egyptian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense and Military Production and Lieutenant General Osama Askar the president of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to the audience pointing out the continuous cooperation and coordination between the Armed Forces and many scientific research and university institutions in the medical fields and the services provided to the Egyptian citizen. The contract for establishing the International Research Center for Regenerative Medicine was signed by Major General Dr. Khaled Issa Amer the chief executive officer of ECRRM on behalf of the Armed Forces and Mr. Andrew Ramos the president of SYMX the American company that will execute the project. The Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces will supervise the project with the assistance of the Major Projects Management and Hill International Company as consultants and managers. It is worth mentioning that the International Research and Treatment Center for Stem Cells will include the Research and Development Center (RLC) the Clinical Trials Unit (CTF) and the Biological Materials Production Unit (BF).

The Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine organized a workshop in May for researchers in the Genome Project entitled Introduction to Genomic Variation Interpretation in Rare Diseases. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Emma Babble a lecturer in genomic medicine at the University of Exeter and a consultant in clinical genetics Professor Anna Murray director of the Master's Program in Genomic Medicine at the University of Exeter and Dr. Joseph Leslie a rare disease genetics researcher at the University of Exeter. The workshop aimed to cover different databases related to each step of genetic variation derivation in order to identify the possible mutations associated with the onset of pathological symptoms. In addition to the approaches practiced to create a simplified methodological sequence that can be implemented to derive these mutations that cause symptoms based on the frequency overlap and similarity of information between the databases used in each step of the sequence.

In May a delegation from the University of Exeter in London in collaboration with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank visited the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (E.C.R.R.M). The visit was part of the center's plan to enhance cooperation with all scientific platforms and international universities to develop scientific methods to train researchers qualify and develop their expertise and keep them up to date with the latest methods. The first day of the visit consisted of a meeting with Major General Dr. Khaled Eissa Amer the chief executive officer of the E.C.R.R.M Major General Dr. Tarek El Nagdy the Deputy Director Professor Yahya Gad the Head of the Scientific Committee for the Genome Project Dr. Wael Ali the Head of the Laboratory Branch Dr. Ahmed Mustafa the Head of the Bioinformatics Department Dr. Amira Ragheb the coordinator of the Egyptian Genome Project and representatives from the University of Exeter including Dr. Emma Baple a Senior Lecturer in Genomic Medicine at the University of Exeter and a consultant in clinical genetics Professor Anna Murray the Director of the Master's Program in Genomic Medicine at Exeter University and Dr. Joseph Leslie a researcher in genetics for rare diseases at Exeter University as well as representatives from Knowledge E and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. General Dr. Khaled Amer presented an overview of the Egyptian Genome Project its vision goals and the steps taken as well as the project's workflow plan. The meeting continued with the Exeter team discussing the difficulties they faced during the project's implementation and the ways used to overcome them. The two sides agreed to enhance joint cooperation especially in the fields of training scientific research academic cooperation and the development of research mechanisms

The Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine participated in the first African Health Exhibition and Conference Africa Health ExCon which took place from June 5th to 7th 2022 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo. The event was organized by the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement Medical Supply and the Management of Medical Technology. The Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine participated in the conference by presenting lectures and projects. Major General Dr. Tarek Refaat El-Nagdy the Deputy Director of the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine gave a lecture titled Healthcare in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Major General Dr. Tarek Taha, the head of the Stem Cells Department at the center gave two lectures titled Updates on FDA-approved Gene Therapy Products and Antibodies for Kidney Donors. Dr. Zaynab Hani a researcher from the Stem Cells Department gave a lecture titled Using Eggs for Partial Reprogramming of Breast Cancer Cells. Furthermore four researchers from the center participated in the conference’s competition and presented a total of three projects that covered the idea steps taken and results. The first project was presented by researcher Gehad Koura titled Human Cytomegalovirus: Genetic Polymorphism of UL97 gene among Egyptian Breast Cancer Patients The second project was presented by researcher Shimaa Elshenawy titled Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line-microenvironment induced cancer-associated phenotype genotype and functionality in mesenchymal stem cells The third project was presented by Dr. Dina Ahmed and Dr. Eslam Ashour titled Controlled Delivery of Pan-PAD inhibitor (Cl-amidine) using Poly-3(hydroxybutyrate) microspheres Food derived by-product for smart coating of medical devices surfaces The number of projects participating in this competition was 26 four of which were selected as winners of the competition. Out of the four selected the second and third projects submitted by the researchers at the center won.

As part of the ongoing development process and the aspiration to reach global standards a collaboration meeting was organized with the Genome at Scale team from Illumina in February 2022. The aim was to provide an overview of the objectives projects and samples. Major General Doctor Khaled Amer welcomed a team from Illumina with a laboratory tour aimed at evaluating the laboratory in terms of laboratory planning environmental preservation methods pollution control sample preservation storage methods and procedures to operate and use the devices. The laboratory tour also incorporated a joint meeting to discuss the projects and objectives of the center as well as an overview of the progress made in the genome project its timeline and the goals and steps that have been taken. The meeting concluded with an agreement to work on recommendations from Illumina to improve and develop the workflow after the laboratory evaluation. Following the meeting a training session was organized by Illumina in March 2022 for researchers at the center on the use of the microarray device which included a comprehensive presentation of the device's technology and its use for the Egyptian genome project.

Major General Dr. Tarek Refaat El-Nagdy, Deputy Director of the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine, welcomed the former Belgian Medical Services Director and the Belgian Military Medical Attache in Egypt in March 2022. Major General Dr. Tarek Refaat El-Nagdy began the meeting with a welcoming speech to the attendees and presented about the Center’s achievements in the field of training for employees and its participation in the production of Egyptian vaccine. The presentation included an overview of the Egyptian Genome Project, its objectives and vision, in addition to the vision and strategic plan of the Center, which aligns with Egypt's 2030 Vision. Major General Tarek Taha, head of the Stem Cells Branch at the center, gave a speech outlining the steps taken and the branch’s plan to reach successful treatments for diseases suffered by Egyptian citizens such as cancer (especially breast and colon cancer), diabetes, cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic diseases. Nevertheless, stem cell applications can be used to successfully treat war injuries, burns, gas prevention, and chemical weapons that occur in the military field.

To enhance the foundations of cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research researchers of the Animal Care Branch at the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine and researchers of the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute (VSVRI) in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education participated in the early stages of producing the Egyptian vaccine (EGY VAX) against the emerging Coronavirus. Preclinical trials virus isolation proliferation and passing on tissue cultures were carried out on experimental animals such as white mice and macaques to test the efficacy and safety of the anti-vaccine.

Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine signed a cooperation protocol to implement the National Genome Reference Project for Egyptians in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research within the framework of the armed forces support for scientific research and giving science a leading role in the country development Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine Major General Doctor Khaled Issa Amer head of the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine pointed to the importance of entering Egypt into the nerve of personal medicine and gene therapy stressing that this will only be done through the start of the national project to study the reference human genome and provide modern treatment to Egyptians

The protocol included strengthening cooperation in the fields of joint research work and qualifying human resources through various educational and training programs, and holding workshops and training courses in the fields of scientific research, developing the infrastructure of contemporary laboratories and technologies, e-learning and distance education