Prof. Rica Tanaka

Short Bio

Rica Tanaka MD.PhD is a chairman and professor of Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine Division of Regenerative Therapy, professor of Juntendo University School of Medicine Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and director of Juntendo Hospital Center of Podiatry. Research filed is focused on vascular stem cell biology, vasculogenesis, wound healing, and establishing new generation cell therapy for vascular and tissue regeneration. And, clinically specialized in plastic and reconstructive surgery, wound healing, limb salvage, lower limb reconstruction, podiatry, cell therapy and cosmetic surgery. Recently developed ex vivo cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell (RE-01) which lead to establishing a minimal invasive simple and highly effective cell therapy for vascular and tissue regeneration. Also, as a chief scientific officer of ReEir Inc. (start-up company of RE-01 cell therapy), now preparing an industrial based clinical trial for approval of RE-01 as a new regenerative cell product to treat ischemic non-healing wounds.

Quality and Quantity-Cultured Human Mononuclear Cells Improve the Human Fat raft Vascularization and Survival in an In Vivo Murine Experimental

We have recently disclosed a newly developed ex vivo expansion system of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PbMNC) to generate assembly of cells including endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and macrophages and regulatory T cells for enhanced vasculogenesis and wound healing. For the first time, this methodology will allow us to transplant highly vasculogenic peripheral blood cells from only 100 mL of blood draw. After finishing pre-clinical study and safety tests, we have performed a physician-based phase I clinical trial for treating non-healing ischemic limb ulcers from January 2015 to March 2018 and demonstrated its safety and efficacy in patients. Industrial clinical trial is prepared to be staring in 2021 FY. Herein, we will introduce challenges and future perspective of world`s first non-invasive and effective peripheral blood vascular stem cell therapy for limb salvage.