The BioMiStem team, which includes researchers from the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology at the Jagiellonian University (Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Krakow and researchers and clinicians from the company Galen-Ortopedia sp. z o.o. in Bieruń under the direction of Professor Ewa Zuba-Surma was awarded the 21st Economic Award of the President of the Republic of Poland in the ‘Research+Development’ category. 

The BioMiStem team was awarded for the development of MesoCellA-Ortho – a biological Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP), whose active substance is human autologous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from adipose tissue. 

It is intended for use in orthopaedics, for the treatment of cartilage and bone defects in patients with osteoarthritis. The product has undergone an application and classification procedure at the European Medicines Agency and has been approved for a clinical trial with osteoarthritis patients, which is currently being conducted by the BioMiStem team and sponsored by the UJ.