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.