It should be noted that the administrative philosophy and regulatory structure of the University of São Paulo Medical School facilitate student and researcher access to other Institution laboratories and equipment parks. Regarding the lines of research of this Program, the recent development of cell therapy laboratories is highlighted. These laboratories, which aim to bring basic research closer to clinical application, are currently seeking ANVISA authorizations to operate in line with the norms of RDC 260 of 12/21/2018 and RDC 214, which address good practices for the use of human cells for therapeutic and clinical research purposes. NUCEL and MedCell were conceived along this line. MedCell, the HC-FMUSP Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Center, consists of a strategically built area, attached to the Surgical Center to enable and facilitate the transit of donor organs, tissues and cells to recipients under sterile conditions. This area was designed to allow the isolation, cultivation and manipulation of cells to be used in clinical cell therapy and tissue engineering protocols throughout the Institution. The Cellular and Molecular Therapy Nucleus (NUCEL – www.usp.br/nucel) was created in April 2012, through an Ordinance of the Rectory of the University of São Paulo (GR3.337), as a Research Support Nucleus (NAP) that brings together faculty from different USP departments with similar lines of research. The Translational Research Center, CTC-NUCEL, a product of the Nucleus, which became part of the USP Medical School in December 2012, occupies three floors of 500m2 each, a 500m2 technical floor and a 250m2 service area containing separate enclosures for the two transformers and the generator that supply around 75% of the building, and a 2,500L water tank. The Center has 3 laboratories for cell processing (with areas of 26m2, 21.4m2 and 21.4m2) and a laboratory for processing genetically modified cells (26.7m2 in area). We believe that the Center will encourage projects related to cell therapy in the musculoskeletal system with greater interaction among different knowledge areas (for example, bioengineering). In the scientific interface areas it will be possible to conduct pioneering and cutting-edge projects, allowing us to expand the scope and the academic-scientific impact of our Program.
