Dr. Peter Hollands is the Chief Scientific Officer of Widecells Group PLC (LON:WDC) and a founding father of modern regenerative medicine. His stem cell research began at Cambridge University in the late1970’s and he continues to work at the threshold of human knowledge and understanding of stem cells and their therapeutic potential.
We talked to Dr. Hollands about his own professional journey, and about how stem cell science has progressed during his career. Dr. Hollands also shared his insights into the future of regenerative medicine and the roles of umbilical cord blood and stem cell insurance in that future.
Dr. Hollands, thank you for talking to us today. Please tell us a little about your professional journey to your current position as Chief Medical Officer.
I trained at Cambridge University and carried out my PhD at Cambridge University working on some of the very early ideas in modern stem cell technology. I then trained as a Clinical Embryologist and worked at the first IVF clinic in the world called Bourn Hall Clinic.
During my career I have worked as an Academic in several Universities, worked for private biotechnology and stem cell companies and worked with the NHS at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. All of these positions involved teaching, research and clinical work in stem cell technology.
I met João Andrade and Lopes Gil shortly after they created WideCells and I am now delighted to be the Chief Scientific Officer of the WideCells Group PLC. In November 2017 I will receive a Visiting Chair in Regenerative Medicine from the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Regenerative Medicine.