The members of the MATHEC Association « MALADIES AUTO-IMMUNES (MAI) ET THERAPIE CELLULAIRE » are working to develop the use of bone marrow transplantation and cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases and to promote French centers of excellence internationally.
The MATHEC network was established over a 15 year span through collaborations between experts from the following French accredited centers for the practice of hematopoietic stem cell transplants in autoimmune diseases: Paris Saint-Louis and Saint-Antoine, Lille, Strasbourg, Poitiers, Toulouse, Marseille, Nantes, Clermont-Ferrand, and Grenoble.
The MATHEC network, which is focused on the development of innovative stem cell therapies for the treatment of non-malignant autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases, is coordinated at Saint-Louis Hospital, department of internal medicine, autoimmune diseases and vascular pathology (UF04 , Pr Farge). In November 2017, Saint-Louis hospital was appointed as a “Center of Reference for Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases of l’Ile-de-France, FAI2R sector.
Under the aegis of the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC), and in accordance with the National Plan for Rare Diseases 3 (PNMR3), MATHEC members contribute to the following activities in collaboration with experts from the accredited centers for marrow allograft and cell therapy:
- Develop updated information for patients to facilitate access to routine care and therapeutic innovations
- Develop Good Clinical Practice (GCP) procedures and care protocols around stem cell therapy for autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases, which are validated by members of the scientific council of the SFGM-TC. These protocols, which comply with European standards, are established in partnership with health authorities in France (National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Medical Devices, BioMedicine Agency) and the other relevant Societies and Academic Research Groups specializing in the different autoimmune diseases.
- Design and carry out clinical and translational research.
- Facilitate the dissemination of standardized clinical protocols, information, and training of health care professional via the website www.mathec.com, which is accessible to all members of the SFGM-TC
- Establish a common clinical and biological database under the SFGM-TC umbrella and in partnership with the EBMT European Autoimmune Disease Working Group (ADWP EBMT)