Sang Won Han
한상원
Biophysics,
Federal University of Sao Paulo - UNIFESP
Biophysics
Professor Sang Won Han is a professor at the Paulista School of Medicine at UNIFESP (Federal University of São Paulo), and he has been coordinating the National Institute of Gene Therapy since its initial implementation in 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, Professor Han was president of the Brazilian Cell and Gene Therapy Association, and he served as vice-president from 2019 to 2021. As one of the founders of the Interdisciplinary Center for Gene Therapy at UNIFESP, he directed the center from its creation in 2004 until 2010. During this period, he was responsible for developing the vector used in the first gene therapy clinical trial in Brazil. Acting as a member of the Advanced Therapies Technical Chamber of ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) and CTNBio (National Biosafety Commission), he played an active role in drawing up regulations for the use of gene therapy in Brazil.
Educations
PhD in Biochemistry from the University of São Paulo - USP
Work Positions
• Postdoctoral researcher in gene therapy at the University of Washington, USA, 1992-1994.
• Assistant Professor at São Paulo State University (UNESP): 1988-1996
• Adjunct Professor at UFIFESP (Federal University of São Paulo): 1996-2007
• Associate Professor at UNIFESP (Federal University of São Paulo): 2007-2016
• Full Professor at UNIFESP (Federal University of São Paulo): 2016 - present
Professional Activities
• Co-founder and Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Gene Therapy (CINTERGEN) at UNIFESP (2004-2010)
• Member of the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) (2021-present)
• Member of ANVISA's Advanced Therapies Technical Chamber (2016-present)
• President of the Brazilian Cell and Gene Therapy Association (2021-2023)
• Coordinator of the National Institute of Science and Technology for Gene Therapy (2023-present)
Honors and Awards
Young Scientist Award from the International Union of Microbiology Societies (1990)
Supervisor
Master's degree: 25 (supervisor) + 5 (co-supervisor)
Doctorate's degree: 8 (supervisor) + 8 (co-supervisor)
Postdoctoral research: 6
Research grants
• Investigation of the role of ANXA1 in limb ischemia recovery and development of gene therapy with non-viral vectors. FAPESP: R$ 240,173.50 + US$ 7,000.00 (2023-2025) Coordinator: Sang Won Han
• Modulation of monocytes, macrophages, and pericytes by colony-stimulating factor genes for the treatment of limb ischemia in a murine model. FAPESP: R$ 1.495.795,95 (2015-2023). Coordinator: Sang Won Han
• Development of effective biomaterial-based systems for safe and efficient delivery of iPSC-derived macrophages into a skeletal muscle to treat limb ischemia. FAPESP: R$ 41,430.00 (2018-2023) Coordinator: Sang Won Han
• Development of treatments and therapies for inflammatory diseases. Capes-Print: R$217,340.00 (2018-2024) Coordinator: Sang Won Han
• National Institute of Science and Technology for Gene Therapy. CNPQ: R$ 2,216,960.00 (2023-2028) Coordinator: Sang Won Han.
Publications and Patents
• Costa ALR, Willerth SM, de la Torre LG, Han SW. Trends in hydrogel-based encapsulation technologies for advanced cell therapies applied to limb ischemia. Mater Today Bio. 2022;13:100221.
• Teng YC, Porfirio-Sousa AL, Ribeiro GM, Arend MC, da Silva Meirelles L, Chen ES, et al. Analyses of the pericyte transcriptome in ischemic skeletal muscles. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2021;12(1):183.
• Martins L, Gallo CC, Honda TSB, Alves PT, Stilhano RS, Rosa DS, et al. Skeletal muscle healing by M1-like macrophages produced by transient expression of exogenous GM-CSF. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2020;11(1):473.
• Stilhano RS, Madrigal JL, Wong K, Williams PA, Martin PK, Yamaguchi FS, et al. Injectable alginate hydrogel for enhanced spatiotemporal control of lentivector delivery in murine skeletal muscle. J Control Release. 2016;237:42-9.
• Giusti, II, Rodrigues CG, Salles FB, Sant'Anna RT, Eibel B, Han SW, et al. High doses of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 safely, but transiently, improve myocardial perfusion in no-option ischemic disease. Hum Gene Ther Methods. 2013;24(5):298-306.
