Ioan Valentin Matei, MD, PhD

Areas of scientific interest

• Research in anti-cancer cell therapies

The main research topic is the development of chimeric antigen receptor-targeted oncoimmunotherapy with natural killer cells (CAR-NK). The purpose is to obtain novel CARs designed for expression by NK cells, exhibiting specificity towards particular tumoral markers, in order to obtain clinically applicable targeted oncoimmunologcial therapies, as an efficient, safe and cost-effective alternative to classic oncological treatments, as well as the treatment of non-curable cancer types. The project takes place at the Center for Gene and Cellular Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer (OncoGen), Emergency Clinical County Hospital “Pius Brinzeu” Timisoara.

• Research in stem cells and regenerative medicine

My research has focused on the use of hydrogen sulfide to improve the differentiation of CD117-positive dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) isolated from adult teeth into pancreatic β-like cells capable of insulin synthesis, to reduce the deleterious effects of glucotoxicity induced by chronic exposure to high glucose conditions, and ultimately to obtain cells that can be used in transplantation applications. The project constituted the basis of my Ph.D. thesis, which was successfully defended in December 2016, as part of the Department of Oral Health at the Nippon Dental University Graduate School of Life Dentistry, Tokyo. At the current time, the project has advanced to the stage of animal testing.

• Research in diabetes and metabolism

The research topic consists of studying the complex relationship established between the adipose tissue, with regards to its repartition and endocrine activity, on the one hand, and the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular illness, on the other. The research took place at the National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Disease “N.C. Paulescu”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest.

Relevant publications

1. Matei IV, Ii H, Yaegaki K. (2016) Hydrogen sulfide enhances pancreatic β-cell differentiation from human tooth under normal and glucotoxic conditions. Regen med 2217/rme-2016-0142
2. Ionescu-Tirgoviste C, Matei IV, Ivanus B, Falcan AM. (2012) Contributions of evolutionary biology to the understanding of cancer. Proc Rom Acad Series B. 14(3), 183-190.
3. Gligor R, Zdremtan D, Pilat L, Matei I, Ionescu-Tirgoviste C, Crisnic I. (2012) Correlations of visfatin with the lipidic metabolism in diabetic and obese patients. Proc Rom Acad Series B. 14(1), 37-43.
4. Ionescu-Tirgoviste C, Matei IV, Gubceac E, Militaru M, Gutu D, Lixandru D. (2011) A cytomorphometric analysis of adipocytes from the omental and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Proc Rom Acad Series B. 13(3), 212-236.

Affiliations

OncoGen Centre – SCJUPB Timisoara