Mohamed Abou-el-Enein, MD, PhD, MSPH
Principal Investigator
abouelenein@med.usc.edu
Dr. Abou-el-Enein’s education and professional journey began in Mansoura, Egypt where he received his medical education. He then earned his specialization in Quality Management at the American University in Cairo before embarking on his MD PhD at Charite University Hospital in Berlin, Germany.
Under the guidance of renowned researchers Drs. Petra Reinke and Hans-Dieter Volk, Dr. Abou-el-Enein received extensive training in the clinical development and manufacturing of advanced cell therapies. During his doctoral work, he conducted one of the earliest studies on optimizing the manufacturing process of cell therapies and associated costs at translational academic institutions. Upon completing his MD PhD, Dr. Abou-el-Enein served as the head of clinical development at Charite University, where he successfully guided the translation of several cutting-edge cell-based therapies, including the landmark first-in-human clinical trial of regulatory T cells for solid organ transplantation. In 2017, Dr. Abou-el-Enein established his research group as an Assistant Professor at Charité University Hospital, where he was awarded the first nationwide Junior Professor position in Germany for Clinical Development of Regenerative Therapies. During this time, he focused his research efforts on leveraging data science to enhance the translation of cell therapy by investigating ways to improve the process of evidence synthesis and regulatory science.
Dr. Abou-el-Enein has a well-rounded educational background that has equipped him with extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of cell and gene therapy. In addition to his medical and doctoral degrees, he has also earned a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnologies from Strasbourg University with a focus on regulatory science, a Clinical Research Certificate from Harvard Medical School, and a Master of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Moreover, he has earned a Qualified Person (QP) degree from the University of Granada, which certifies his competency in production and quality control of advanced therapies. These additional qualifications have allowed Dr. Abou-el-Enein to become a highly experienced physician-scientist, who is deeply involved in the entire translational paradigm of cell therapies and holds the necessary knowledge to effectively carry out these activities.
In 2021, Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein transitioned to the University of Southern California (USC) to establish a leading cell therapy program at USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He joined USC as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Oncology), Pediatrics, and Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine and the inaugural Executive Director of the USC/CHLA Cell Therapy Program. Dr. Abou-el-Enein’s expertise and leadership are further demonstrated by his roles as the Founding Director of the newly constructed cGMP facility and the supporting Quality Control and Process Development Laboratories, for which he played a critical role in designing, supervising construction, and successfully launching on January 24, 2023. He is also the Director of the cGMP core laboratory at CHLA and a member of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2022, Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein was part of the team that secured the Alpha Clinic Award for USC and CHLA. This award resulted in an infusion of 8 million dollars, which will be used to bolster the cell therapy infrastructure at these institutions.
Dr. Abou-el-Enein is a pioneering figure in the field of translational cell therapy, with a passion for making safe and effective cell-based immunotherapies widely accessible to patients. His lab at USC is at the forefront of research and innovation, utilizing state-of-the-art multiplex gene and cell engineering techniques to create immunotherapies that are optimized for functionality, safety, and clinical viability. His lab is also focused on finding ways to reduce costs, increase scalability, and streamline the manufacturing process for cellular immunotherapies. With his cutting-edge research and innovative approach, he is poised to make a lasting impact in the field and bring safe and effective cell therapies to patients in need.
His exceptional work has earned him widespread recognition and numerous awards, including the ASGCT Award for Research on Conditions Disproportionately Affecting Minorities, the Inaugural ISSCR Lawrence Goldstein Policy Fellowship, the Max Rubner Award for Innovation from Stiftung Charité in Germany, among others. Dr. Abou-el-Enein is a highly valued member of several prominent organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California and the ISSCR Next Generation of Leaders. He is also a member of the Stem Cell Oversight Committee at the Canadian Institute of Health Research and a respected voice in the field of gene and cell therapy. He serves as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Therapy – Methods and Clinical Development for the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) and as an Associate Editor for Cancer Gene Therapy. Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein is also a dedicated educator and mentor, who is passionate about training the next generation of scientists and clinicians in the field of cell therapy. He has designed numerous educational programs focused on cell therapy development and translation and has personally trained and mentored a cohort of students and scientists.
Amaia Cadinanos-Garai
Research Scientist
cadinano@usc.edu
Amaia grew up in Spain (Basque Country) and studied Biochemistry at University of Navarra, Pamplona. She then pursued a MRes in Biomedical Research At Imperial College London.
She joined University College London (UCL) to work on the translation of novel CAR T-cell approaches, including the process development and quality testing of multiple autologous and allogeneic CAR T-cell products for patients. Amaia moved to USC as the QC Specialist in 2022 and joined the Abouelenein Lab to pursue her interest in developing potent and safe CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors. Amaia enjoys spending time doing sport, relaxing under the sun and listening to music.
Christian Flugel
Research Scientist
cf_659@usc.edu
Christian is an MD/PhD candidate and researcher in cellular immunotherapy. He grew up in Cologne, Germany and completed a BSc in Economics at the University College London (UCL).
Following his bachelor’s degree, he is currently pursuing his medical studies at Charité-Berlin University Medicine, Germany. Christian is a Senior Research Scientist in the Abou-el-Enein lab at USC and an MD/PhD candidate in the Wagner lab of Charité. In his free time, Christian likes to snowboard, ski, hike, kayak, enjoy techno music, practice his Spanish and take the occasional nap.
Anson Cheung
Specialized Laboratory Technician
anson.cheung@med.usc.edu
Anson grew up in Temple City, California and received his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He joined the Guo Lab in the Department of Neurology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) to characterize the aggregation kinetics and behavior of amyloid proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. He then joined the Abou-El-Enein Lab to explore his interest in optimizing the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies. Outside of the lab, Anson enjoys playing tennis, filmmaking, traveling, and discovering new coffee shops.
Alumni
James Choung
Specialized Laboratory Technician
minjunch@usc.edu
James grew up in Korea and South Africa, then moved to the U.S. to pursue further education in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Outside of the lab, James likes to go to the mountains where he spends time hiking and climbing rocks.
Cristina Aparicio Fernandez
Visiting Researcher
ca_196@usc.edu
Cristina grew up in Palencia (Spain). She studied a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of León and a master’s degree in Advanced Immunology at the University of Barcelona.
The Team
