Wouter Van’t Hof holds a PhD in Cell Biology from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and has over 15 years of biotech experience in the USA in translational research and development of adult stem cell therapies, including bone marrow stromal cells (MSC) and HPC, cord blood. He is currently Cord Blood Bank Director of the Cleveland Cord Blood Center (CCBC). Under his direction, CCBC obtained FDA approval for the manufacture and distribution of HPC, Cord Blood under federal license, as one of only eight nationally licensed cord blood banks in the USA. As Cord Blood Bank Director he oversees Laboratory Operations, including CMC, Process Validation, Aseptic Processing, and GMP compliance. In addition, Wouter leads the Cell Therapy Incubator (CTI), a new CCBC initiative facilitating internal and external programs for broader development of cord blood cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine. From 2002 to 2013, he was a Director at Athersys, Inc., with responsibility for technology transfer, product and process development, preclinical safety, and was deeply involved in regulatory discussion for clinical study design and management of a GVHD prophylaxis trial. He was the scientific lead on the completed Phase 1 safety study in HSCT support for the MultiStem Product. During his academic career, Dr Van’t Hof was an Assistant Professor of Cell Biology in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Assistant Professor of Genetic Medicine, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
