chair professor
Dr Wael Kafienah, PhD

Principal Investigator in Skeletal Tissue Engineering
University of Bristol, UK


1. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Dr Wael Kafienah
Date of Birth: 20 April 1970
Nationality: British
Marital Status: Married with 2 children
Address: Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
Tel: +44 (117) 33 12096 Fax: +44 (117) 33 12091
Web: www.bris.ac.uk/cellmolmed
Email: w.z.kafienah@bristol.ac.uk


2. APPOINTMENTS
• Senior Lecturer (US: Associate Professor) in Stem Cell Biology (Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol; February 2011- )
• Lecturer (US: Assistant Professor) in Stem Cell Biology (Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol; February 2006-Present).


3. PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Postdoctoral Research Associate (University of Bristol; September 2005-Janurary 2006): Appointed to an EU Framework 6 project investigating the development of promoter-reporter technologies for monitoring stem cell functions.
• Postdoctoral Research Associate(University of Bristol; February 2001-August 2005): Appointed to a BBSRC/LINK project investigating the pharmacological regulation of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.
• Postdoctoral Research Associate (University of Sheffield; May1998-January 2001): ARC- funded on 2 projects establishing methods for combining gene therapy and cartilage tissue engineering.


4. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
• PhD in Collagen Biochemistry; University of Sheffield, UK (1994-1998)
• BSc in Biomedical Sciences (1st Class); University of Ulster, Northern Ireland (1994)


5. SPECIAL AWARDS, HONOURS AND DISTINCTIONS
• Winner of the prestigious “Garrod Prize 2008” awarded by the British Society for Rheumatology for distinguished work on stem cells and cartilage repair.
• Nominated Committee Member of the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scientific programme for ICRS Meeting 2012 in Montreal, Canada.
• Nominated Committee Member for the British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB; 2008-2012).
• One of five young UK scientists selected to speak at the International Networking for Young Scientists (INYS) Workshop on Stem Cells in Shanghai, China, organised by the British Council (December 2007).
• Winner of Best Presentation Prize (joint first co-author), TERMIS-EU Meeting, Amsterdam (September, 2006). Presented Work: 3D cartilage tissue engineering using stem cells from osteoarthritis patients.
• Certificate of Merit Poster Award in the International Cartilage Repair Society 6th Meeting, San Diego, USA (January 2006).
• Winner of the Young Investigator Award in the British Society for Rheumatology Annual Meeting (April, 2003), Manchester.
• Finalist of the New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA) in the Orthopaedic Research Society 49th Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (February, 2003).
• Royal Society Travel Award to present in the Orthopaedic Research Society 49th Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (February, 2003).
• Novartis Foundation Bursary Award for symposium No. 249 entitled: “Tissue Engineering of Bone and Cartilage” (April, 2002), spending the bursary period in Prof. Arnold Caplan Stem Cell Biology Labs in Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA.
• Arthritis Research UK PhD studentship (October 1994-September 1997).


6. RESEARCH and related administration
6.1 Publications (refereed):
• Kafienah, W. and Painter, T. (2011; in press) Cartilage tissue engineering using human embryonic stem cells. In Comprehensive Biotechnology, Vol 5: Medical Biotechnology and Healthcare, Section 5: Regenerative Medical Technology.
• Hollander A. P., Dickinson, S. C. and Kafienah, W. (2010; In press) Concise Review: Stem cells and cartilage development: complexities of a simple tissue. Stem Cells.
• Pabbruwe, M. B., Kafienah, W., Tarlton, J. F., Mistry, S., Fox, D. J., Hollander, A. P. (2010) Repair of meniscal cartilage white zone tears using a stem cell/collagen-scaffold implant. Biomaterials 31:2583-2591.
• Pabbruwe, M.B., Esfandiari, E., Kafienah, W.*, Tarlton, J. and Hollander, A.P. (2009) Induction of cartilage integration by a chondrocyte-collagen scaffold. Biomaterials 30:4277-86.
• Kafienah, W*. (2008) Towards Cartilage Repair. In: Horizons in Medicine, vol 20. Editor, Prof. P. Matheison. Royal College of Physicians of London Publications.
• Kafienah, W., Cheung F.L., Sims T., Martin I., Miot S., Von Ruhland C., Roughley P.J., Hollander A.P. (2008) Lumican inhibits collagen deposition in tissue engineered cartilage. Matrix Biology 27, 526-534.
• Kafienah, W*. Are stem cells the answer to treating osteoarthritis (OA)? An online editorial for the 2007 National Knowledge Week on Osteoarthritis, NHS Library for Health, UK.
• Kafienah, W., Mistry, S., Perry, M.J., Politopoulou, G. and Hollander, A.P. (2007) Pharmacological regulation of adult stem cells: chondrogenesis can be induced using a synthetic inhibitor of the retinoic acid receptor. Stem Cells 25, 2460-2468.
• Kafienah, W., Mistry, S., Dickinson, S.C., Sims, T.J., Learmonth, I. and Hollander A.P. (2007) Three-dimensional cartilage tissue engineering using adult stem cells from osteoarthritis patients. Arthritis Rheum. 56, 177-187.
• Kafienah, W.*, Mistry, S., Williams, C. and Hollander, A.P. (2006) Nucleostemin is a marker of proliferating stromal stem cells in adult human bone marrow. Stem Cells 24, 1113-1120.
• Kafienah, W.* and Sims, T.J. (2004) Biochemical methods for the analysis of tissue-engineered cartilage. Methods Mol. Biol. 238, 217-230.
• Kafienah, W., Al-Fayez, F., Hollander, A.P., Barker, M.D. (2003) Inhibition of cartilage degradation: A combined tissue engineering and gene therapy approach. Arthritis Rheum. 48, 709-718.
• Kafienah, W., Jacob, M., Démarteau, O., Frazer, A., Barker, M.D., Martin, I. and Hollander, A.P. (2002) Three dimensional tissue engineering of hyaline cartilage: Comparison of adult nasal and articular chondrocytes. Tissue Eng. 8, 817-826.
• Kafienah, W., Brömme, D., Buttle, D.J., Croucher, L.J. and Hollander, A.P. (1998) Human cathepsin K cleaves native type I and II collagens at the N-terminal end of the triple helix. Biochem. J. 331, 727-732.
• Kafienah, W., Buttle, D.J., Burnett, D. and Hollander, A.P. (1998) Cleavage of native type I collagen by human neutrophil elastase. Biochem. J. 330, 897-902.

6.2 Publications (not refereed):
• Kafienah W. An invited editorial by a young scientist for the International Cartilage Repair Society newsletter (Issue I, 2004).
• Hollander A.P. and Kafienah W.(2007) Methods for Tissue Engineering. Worldwide Patent (WO/2007/003958).
• Kafienah W, Hollander A.P., Esfandiari E. and Tarlton J. (2005). Cellular Bandage. Worldwide Patent (WO/2005/5753).
• Hollander A.P., Barker M.D. and Kafienah W. (1999). Transfection of chondrocytes. Worldwide Patent (WO/1999/2702).

6.3 Research Grants
Qatar Foundation – Collaborative project with Qatar University
Title: Biodegradable Elastomers for Cytokine Delivery in Cancer Therapy
Applicants: Younis H and Kafienah W
Amount: US $943,615 for 36 months starting October 2010.

EPSRC UK Cross-Disciplinary Feasibility Scheme
Title: Engineering the Substrate Elasticity for Stem Cells Differentiation in Cartilage Tissue: Experimental & Mathematical Modelling Study
Applicants: Kafienah W, Rahatekar SS, and Chenchiah IV
Amount: £15,000 for 12 months starting April 2010.

International collaborative project with the Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research in King Abdul-Aziz University, funded by King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia
Title: Isolation and characterization of highly proliferating adult stem cells for use in cell therapies.
Applicants: Gari MA, Dallol A, Bohmeida A and Al-Sayes F and Kafienah W
Amount: circa £300,000 for 24 months starting October 2010

CMM Pump Priming Grant Competition:
Title: Bacterial-Stem Cell interactions in osteomyelitis.
Applicants: Kafienah W and Hill DJ
Amount: £4,022 for 12 months starting August 2009.

BBSRC UK, Technology Strategy Board:
Grant in support of Azellon Ltd towards developing a human trial using the company’s stem cellbandage technology.
Applicants: Jordansen T, Hollander AP and Kafienah W
Amount: £575,000 for 24 months starting January 2009.

Wellcome Trust:
Title: Meniscal cartilage repair using a new stem cell bandage integration technology.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Blom A and Kafienah W
Amount: £240,161 for 24 months starting February 2008.

Elkin Foundation No. 1:
Title: Manipulation of embryonic stem cells for use in therapeutic tissue engineering - Core Facility Grant.
Applicants: Kafienah W and Hollander AP.
Amount: £35,922 for 36 months starting March 2007.

Elkin Foundation No. 1:
Title: Controlled differentiation of adult and embryonic stem cells for the treatment of orthopeadic diseases - PhD Studentships.
Applicants: Kafienah W and Hollander AP.
Amount: £62,679 for 36 months starting October 2007.

The James Tudor Foundation:
Title: Creation of adult stem cell lines for the treatment of orthopaedic diseases.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Atkins R, Kafienah W and Blom A
Amount and Duration: £257,000 for 36 months starting February 2007.

Arthritis Research UK:
Title: Isolation of stem cells from patients with osteoarthritis for the repair of cartilage by tissue engineering.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Kafienah W and Dickinson SC.
Amount and duration: £96,877 for 24 months starting February 2004.

Arthritis Research UK:
Title: Quantitative PCR analysis of mRNA in natural and engineered tissues and patient biopsies.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Kafienah W, Saleem M and Case CP.
Amount and duration: £12,250 for 12 months starting April 2004.

Arthritis Research UK:
Title: Cartilage tissue engineering using nasal chondrocytes: an investigation of factors that can influence integration of implant with host tissue.
Applicants: Kafienah W, Hollander AP, Tarlton JF and Barker MD
Amount and duration: £79,233 for 24 months, starting February 2002.

BBSRC and Smith & Nephew plc LINK Grant:
Title: Pharmacological regulation of mesenchymal stem cells.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Billingham M, Perry M and Kafienah W.
Amount and duration: £447,968 for 36 months, starting September 2002.

Arthritis Research UK:
Title: Tissue engineering of cartilage using chondrocytes transfected with sense and antisense genes: a tool for research and therapy.
Applicants: Hollander AP, Barker MD, and Kafienah W.
Amount and duration: £95,590 for 30 months, starting May 1999.

6.4 Indications of External Recognition
• Editorial Board member for the World Journal of Stem Cells (2009-2013).
• Committee Member of the BSMB (2008-2011) and conference organiser for the BSMB 2011 spring meeting.
• Scientific Advisory Board Member for the Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2009-Present).
• Invited judge for the abstracts and posters of the 4th UK Mesenchymal Stem Cell Meeting (Leeds, April 2010).
• Invited Review Panel Member for the Translational Stem Cell Call by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Madrid, November 2009).
• Visiting Professor, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (December 2008 and August 2010).
• PhD External Examiner for Miss Sushmita Saha, University of Leeds (January 2010) and the Internal Examiner for 2 PhD (2008 and 2010) and 1 MD (2009) students.
• Selected member for the Arthritis Research UKStrategy Workshop on cell-based therapies, Manchester (June 2008).
• Ad hoc referee for the following funding bodies: The Medical Research Council (MRC), Medical Research Scotland, Arthritis Research UK, the Dutch Arthritis Association, the British Council, the Home for the Horse Rest Trust, the Hadwen Trust for Animal Replacement Research UK and the Czech Science Foundation.
• Ad hoc referee for the following scientific journals: Tissue Engineering, Arthritis and Rheumatism, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis Research and Therapy, Journal of Pathology, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Rheumatology, Regenerative Medicine, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, International Journal of Medical Sciences, Rejuvenation Research and the Journal of Rheumatology.
• Invited Plenary Speaker to the following national and international conferences:
• 1st International Genomic Medicine Conference organized by Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (February 2011).
• The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) UK 1st Surgical Skills Course, London (October 2010).
• The Second International Congress of the Egyptian Society for Progenitor Cell Research, Cairo (June 2010).
• “Current Trends in Metabolic Bone Disorders” conference, organized by the British Journal of Hospital Medicine, London, UK (November 2009).
• The North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) 1st Meeting on Adult Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (August 2009).
• The prestigious annual UK Stem Cell Network (UKSCN) meeting (April 2009).
• The Cardiff-Bath Research Forum on Regenerative Medicine (September 2008).
• The Advanced Medicine conference by the Royal College of Physicians, London (February 2008).
• The UK-China International Networking Young Scientists Meeting on human stem cell therapies, organised by the British Council, Shanghai (December 2007).
• Millipore Stem Cell Meeting, London (November 2007).
• The South West Osteopaths Society, Taunton, UK (November 2007).
• The 3rd World Congress on Regenerative Medicine, Leipzig, Germany (October 2007).
• The Stem Cell Manchester Meeting, UK (July 2007).
• The Cardiff University Biomedical Seminar Series, UK (May 2007).

6.5 Entrepreneurship
I am a co-founder and scientific advisor for Azellon Cell Therapeutics Ltd; a University of Bristolspin-out company based on the Cell Bandage Patent (WO/2005/5753) to develop stem cell delivery systems for treating meniscal tears in the knee.


7. TEACHING and related administration
7.1 Major contributions to postgraduate and undergraduate teaching
• Unit: Pathological Responses of Cells:
70-80 students, b) Year 1, c) Contributing lecturer and Unit Organiser
• Unit: Biology of Normal and Tumour Cells:
70-80 students, b) Year 1, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 2 lectures and 4 tutorials,
• Topic: Stem Cell Transplantation:
40 students, b) Year 3, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 2 lectures
• Topic: Neoplasia I:
70-80 students, b) Year 3, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 1 lecture.
• Unit: Anatomy I:
10-20 students, b) Year 1, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 1 lecture.
• Topic: MDEMO:
40-60 students, b) Year 3, c) Contributing lecturer and lectures coordinator, d) 2 lectures.
• Topic: Musculoskeletal System:
150-200 students, b) Year 1, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 1 lectures
• MSc course: Transfusion and Transplantation Sciences:
30-40 students, b) Year 5, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 2 lectures.
• MSc course: Stem Cells and Regeneration:
30-40 students, b) Year 5, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 2 lectures and a practical.
• Topic: Regenerative Medicine:
40-60 students, b) Year 3, c) Contributing lecturer and Topic Organiser, d) 6 lectures.
• Topic: Genetics and Development:
40-60 students, b) Year 2, c) Contributing lecturer, d) 1 lecture.

7.2 Contribution to innovatory units or teaching methods:
• Topic organiser and lecturer for the newly planned CMM Year 3 Topic Regenerative Medicine (Academic year 2010/11).
• Creator and director of video-based lab practicals for the MSc course in Regenerative Medicine (CSSB). The videos will also be used to train postgraduate and undergraduate students in CMM.

7.3 Postgraduate Supervision:
• Primary supervisor for PhD students: Miss Kim Ridgway (started Oct 2007) and Miss Amani Owaidah (starting March 2010).
• Primary supervisor for MSc student: Mrs Huda Banni (started Dec 2008), Mr Stirling Yiin (October 2010) and Mr Mohammed Abdel-Malek (October 2010).
• Joint supervisor for PhD students: Mr Sanjay Mistry (2004-2008), Miss Catherine Sutton (started Oct 2007) and Miss Kyla Brady (started Oct 2009) with Prof. Anthony Hollander.

Last Update
11/30/2012 3:51:56 PM