MANILA, 24 August 2007 — A Jordanian scientist specializing in stem cell-based therapy and cancer immunotherapy has offered to sponsor four Filipino specialists, preferably hematologists or oncologists, to a two-day training in Jordan.
Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Jose P. Del Rosario Jr. reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Jordanian doctor Adeeb M. Al-Zoubi told Vice Consul Mark Francis C. Hamoy in Amman that he wished to sponsor the training of Filipino scientists on the separation of CD34+ stem cells from mobilized leukapheresis product for the purpose of infusion into patients with a blood abnormality.
According to Dr. Al-Zoubi, the trainees need only to worry about their airfare to Jordan and that he would personally shoulder the training costs and their accommodations.
Should the Filipinos find the procedure applicable in the Philippine setting, Al-Zoubi offered to help their respective hospitals set up the required facilities to enable them to provide this form of treatment to Filipino patients.
The proposed training program will cover methodologies and procedures for the separation of CD34+ stem cells from mobilized leukapheresis product for the purpose of infusion into patients with a blood abnormality. The specific abnormality will depend on patient availability at the time of the training. The trainees will also receive instruction on:
• Sample preparation and optimization of procedures
• Determining percentages of stem cells in the original sample
• Purification of a specific stem cell population using the cliniMACS system
• Detailed training on flow cytometry to analyze the purity of positive cells
Al-Zoubi, who graduated with a degree in medical technology from the Southwestern University in Cebu City and who is happily married to Gigi Castro Sia, a Filipino, said that he would prefer candidates who are influential decision-makers when it comes to implementing the technology in the Philippines.
Interested candidates may e-mail their letter of interest and qualifications to [email protected] or [email protected]. Inquiries may also be addressed to Vice Consul Hamoy through his e-mail address: [email protected].
