Abba C. Zubair, M.D., Ph.D.

The purpose of this work is to develop brain cancer-specific small synthetic oligonucleotides (aptamers) that easily cross the BBB and capable of forming distinct three-dimensional configurations, enabling them to bind to target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The scope of this work is to develop brain cancer specific aptamers and combine them with patient-derived autologous T cells to enhance the tumor targeted immune reaction.

Our three major project aims are the creation of the Bispecific Aptamer T Cell Engagers (BATE) (aim 1), the creation of autologous T cell – BATE (aim 2), and finally the combination of our BATE and/or PATE with PDL-1 targeted CART cells (aim 3) for evaluation of synergism.

The purpose of this study is the collection of Mononuclear cells (MNCs)  from healthy or diseased volunteers via venipuncture and apheresis is routinely required for the development, validation, and/or training of laboratory procedures in the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics Process Development Laboratory. This protocol is intended to allow the systematic collection of mononuclear cells by apheresis and/or routine venipuncture. Resultant cell products may be banked and distributed for laboratory studies/in vitro assay development with collaborators enterprise-wide and external partners approved by Mayo Clinic IRB.  

The purpose of this registry is to collect human biospecimens for the support of new clinical protocol development and produce clinical grade cells and tissue for future clinical trials.

Stage A: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the INTERCEPT Blood System for Red Blood Cells Pathogen Reduction Treatment (PRT) in comparison to conventional RBCs in adult patients who require RBC transfusion support. Stage B: To provide early access to the INTERCEPT pathogen reduction system for RBC in regions where a substantial proportion of the population has been infected or is at risk of infection by the Zika virus (ZIKV), and the risk of asymptomatic infection among qualified blood donors is recognized. Besides the reduction of risk of transfusion transmitted ZIKV, the intent of the study is also to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) in general, including transfusion related sepsis and other emerging or concurrent endemic pathogens (e.g. Dengue and Chikungunya), and to reduce the risk of TA-GVHD. As part of this treatment use study, additional data will be provided on the safety of INTERCEPT-treated RBCs (IBS RBCs) supplied for routine clinical transfusion practice.

The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of spike (S) protein antibodies in COVID-19 vaccinated individuals, to assess the role of age and gender in relation to the capacity of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals to develop S protein antibodies, and to identify microRNA (miRNA) in serum derived exosomes that correlates with S protein antibody development and determine how age and gender may affect the correlation B.

The overall goal of this study is to develop mesenchymal stem cell therapy for treatment of acute spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke.