Despite the conflict in the Middle East and the uncertainties it brings, the MILenARI project continues to advance its mission: bringing accessible, academic CAR T cell therapy to the Mediterranean region.
Despite the conflict in the Middle East and the uncertainties it brings, the MILenARI project—led by Clínic-IDIBAPS in partnership with the King Hussein Cancer Center (Jordan), the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), and the Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù (Italy)—continues to advance its mission: bringing accessible, academic CAR‑T cell therapy to the Mediterranean region.
The project is based on cross-border collaboration to train new professionals who can produce the therapy anywhere in the Mediterranean basin, and send the key materials for this production, especially the vectors needed to produce CAR-T therapy. As mobility restrictions and regional instability increase, these core components have been significantly affected.
Cross‑border activities under pressure
Partners in Lebanon and Jordan describe similar challenges. From Beirut, Ali Abdulhamid Bazarbachi, principal investigator of AUB team, highlights that instability directly threatens activities that depend on in person engagement. “Onsite training, facility readiness, and preparation for future international clinical trials are the most likely to be affected,” he explains, “as they require stable operations, mobility of experts, and uninterrupted supply chains.”
Jordan faces comparable obstacles, particularly regarding material transfer. “The validation process in Jordan is directly impacted, as we cannot begin this work until the vector arrives,” Imad Munif Treish notes, co-principal investigator from KHCC. Restrictions on transportation have slowed shipments and delayed activities requiring cross‑border logistics or physical presence.
Manel Juan, project leader at Clínic-IDIBAPS, confirms these disruptions. “We had planned support visits for protocol transfer, but the current context has made travel impossible. On the other hand, we will need to redefine shipment routes to Jordan and especially to Lebanon.”
Continuity through adaptability
To keep the project moving, the consortium has quickly shifted toward virtual collaboration. Online training sessions have replaced initial plans for on‑site mentoring, ensuring that teams can continue preparing their facilities and strengthening their technical capacity.
According to Bazarbachi, such contingency efforts align naturally with MILenARI’s collaborative structure. “Research consortia ensure continuity by shifting to remote training, redistributing tasks when needed, and building flexibility into timelines and deliverables.”
For the Jordanian team, constant communication and adjusted timelines are also essential: “The consortium is maintaining strong coordination, exploring alternative logistical solutions, and sustaining progress through virtual work.”
Resilience on the ground
The lived reality varies across institutions. In Lebanon, the atmosphere is marked by “strain, uncertainty, and determination.” Teams are reorganizing workflows, supporting one another, and striving to maintain research and clinical responsibilities. “The environment is heavy,” they share, “but continuity has become both a coping mechanism and a source of resilience.”
Jordan’s KHCC currently operates under more stable conditions. “Our staff remain motivated and committed to advancing the project,” they report. “We see this work as a meaningful contribution to patients’ lives”, affirms Treish.
Why MILenARI must go on
Across all partners, the message is clear: pausing is not an option. As Bazarbachi emphasizes, “CART therapies address life-threatening conditions that do not pause in times of conflict.” Jordan echoes this urgency: “Keeping the project active shows resilience and ensures progress continues despite external challenges.”
In a moment of instability, MILenARI stands as a reminder that scientific collaboration is not only a catalyst for innovation—it is a commitment to hope.
Last Update
09/04/2026
Next Med