The fast advancing field of stem cell transplantation (SCT) is currently affecting a vast majority of medical practices worldwide, ultimately influencing routine medical practices for patients suffering from different chronic diseases. Currently, there are no clear guidelines for SCT in treating non-hematological diseases. An acceptable SCT plan should provide high quality treatments without compromising patient safety, and must include (1) defining types and sources of stem cells, (2) methods of stem cell collection and handling in the laboratory, and (3) methods of SCT by authorized personnel in a licensed facility.

In 2007, we developed the Jordanian Method for utilization of autologous purified stem cells for treatment of chronic human illnesses, which has been used at different facilities around the world. Using the Jordanian Method, we are able to obtain highly pure autologous populations of stem cells in a safe and effective manner. We use bone marrow or peripheral blood as sources for obtaining autologous stem cells. We remove red blood cells (RBCs) by density-gradient centrifugation to obtain mononuclear cells (MNCs), which contain a small fraction (1-3%) of stem cells of different types. We then use the CliniMACS^®, a clinically-approved system for magnetic purification of combined populations of CD34+, CD133+ and CD271+ stem cells. Using this method allowed us to obtain unique combinations of highly pure (>95%) stem cells in a clinical setting. These pure cells are then transplanted into the affected organ in a safe manner. The cells were not subjected to modifying environment, such as ex vivo cultures/expansion, or modifying their genetic or epigenetic properties, thus making them classified as “unmodified autografts”. The Jordanian Method was uniquely utilized to treat incurable human illnesses such as neurological diseases, spinal cord injuries, infertility, blindness, and liver damage, with variable success rates. Our results showed that patients treated with their own autologous, un-manipulated, purified stem cells exhibited minimum side effects, long lasting healing outcomes, and were not subjected to transmittable diseases.

Autologous stem cells remain the safest type of cells since they are not rejected by the patient’s body, easily available in patients with different illnesses, and can be collected using non-invasive procedures.