Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD
Biography
Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy. An internationally recognized physician and researcher, Dr. Tolar is known for his care of patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. His research is focused on developing cellular therapies for rare genetic disorders. Originally from the Czech Republic, Dr. Tolar received his medical education (MD) in Prague at Charles University. In 1992, he came to the University of Minnesota, where he received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology and Genetics.
Education
Examination of Maturity, Other, Summa cum laude, Na vitezne plani
Major: Biology
Research
Dr. Tolar's research focuses on finding new ways to treat children with lethal, inherited diseases. He is also looking for safer and more effective gene therapy for diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa, mucopolysaccharidosis type I (Hurler syndrome), Fanconi anemia, and dyskeratosis congenita. Additional research interests include reducing the negative effects of stem cell transplantation (such as using mesenchymal stromal cells for graft-versus-host disease); creation and use of induced pluripotent stem cells; gene therapy using gene addition (with viral vectors and trasposons); and gene editing (with synthetic nucleases to repair genes).
Epidermolysis bullosa
Fanconi anemia
Dyskeratosis congenita
Hurler syndrome (MPS)
Gene therapy
Licensures & Certifications
American Sub Board of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Licensure/Certification Number: 001866
Minnesota Medical License,
Licensure/Certification Number: 42278
Awards, Honors and Recognitions
Team Telomere Award for Excellence in Medicine, 2022
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society, 2021
Academy for Excellence in Health Research, University of Minnesota Academic Health Center, 2016
Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, 2015
Innovator in Translational Research Award, University of Minnesota Pediatric Faculty Recognition, 2014
Leadership in Healthcare , “Change Agent” Award, Minnesota Business Magazine, 2013
Rare Disease Research Hall of Fame, National Organization for Rare Disorders, 2013
Edmund Wallace Tulloch and Anna Marie Tulloch Chair in Stem Cell Biology, Genetics and Genomics, 2013
Albert D. and Eva J. Corniea Chair, 2011
Butterfly Award, Children’s Cancer Research Fund, 2009
Elected Member, Society of Pediatric Research , 2005
University Pediatrics Foundation Scholar, 2005
Presentations
"EB Therapeutics: Lessons from stem cell biology and transplantation", International EB Symposium, Osaka (virtual), Japan. May 08, 2023.
"Embracing our aging world.", Embracing our aging world., 3rd Vietnam National Geriatric Conference, Hanoi, Viet Nam. November 12, 2022.
"Reaping Mendel’s Harvest: Genome editing and the era of precision medicine.", Reaping Mendel’s Harvest: Genome editing and the era of precision medicine., Mendel’s 200th Birthday Celebration, Brno, Czech Republic. July 21, 2022.
"Stem cell medicines for EB.", Stem cell medicines for EB., Debra Care Conference, keynote speech, Denver, CO, United States. July 18, 2022.
"ABCB5+ MSCs: a new approach to inflammation.", Debra Care Conference, Denver, CO, United States. July 17, 2022.
"Being able to cure EB, or treat but not cure EB; that is the question?", “Sweet and Sour” debate with Dr. John McGrath. Webinar, European Society of Dermatology Research (ESDR) Kitchen, London, England. February 09, 2022.
"Vaccination: Lessons learned from the roll out in MN and national planning in Cuba: Minnesota Vaccines, variants, and cases.", Vaccination: Lessons learned from the roll out in MN and national planning in Cuba: Minnesota Vaccines, variants, and cases., University of Minnesota-Cuba COVID-19 Forum, Virtual, United States. April 21, 2021.
"Containing COVID-19 in Minnesota, UMN’s Role.", University of Minnesota- Cuba COVID-19 Forum, Virtual, United States. December 16, 2020.
"Gene Manipulations and Therapies", Gene Manipulations and Therapies, EB2020, London, England. January 21, 2020.
"Combining Approaches: BMT and systemic treatment", Combining Approaches: BMT and systemic treatment, EB2020, London, England. January 21, 2020.
"Curative vs. Disease-modifying Strategies", Curative vs. Disease-modifying Strategies, EB2020, London, England. January 20, 2020.
"Symbiosis of Artificial and Human Intelligence in Medicine", Symbiosis of Artificial and Human Intelligence in Medicine, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. July 10, 2019.
"Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine", Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Global Health Congress’ Healthcare Innovation Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. September 11, 2018.
"Venture Science of Regenerative Dermatology", Venture Science of Regenerative Dermatology, European Dermatology Forum, St. Gallen, Switzerland. January 25, 2018.
"Gene regeneration: From mechanism to therapy", Gene regeneration: From mechanism to therapy, The Human Genome in Healthcare, Genetics Society, London, England. November 23, 2017.
"BMT for RDEB and JB: What we have learned, and how does this instruct what we do next?", BMT for RDEB and JB: What we have learned, and how does this instruct what we do next?, EB2017/EB CliNet, Salzburg, Germany. September 26, 2017.
"Gene Editing of COL7A1", Gene Editing of COL7A1, IX Symposium of Epidermolysis Bullosa: Ninos Piel de Cristal, Santiago, Chile. December 15, 2016.
"Hematopoietic Transplant in Epidermolysis Bullosa", Hematopoietic Transplant in Epidermolysis Bullosa, IX Symposium of Epidermolysis Bullosa: Ninos Piel de Cristal, Santiago, Chile. December 15, 2016.
"Gene edited stem cells: from cloning to clinic", Gene edited stem cells: from cloning to clinic, European Society of Gene & Cell Therapy/International Society for Stem Cell Research Meeting, Florence, Italy. October 16, 2016.
"Hematopoietic cell transplantation in epidermolysis bullosa", Hematopoietic cell transplantation in epidermolysis bullosa, Regenerative Medicine Conference, Havana, Cuba. October 13, 2016.
"Cell therapy for RDEB", Cell therapy for RDEB, European Epidermolysis Bullosa Meeting, Madrid, Spain. October 08, 2016.
"How bone marrow transplantation changed my life with RDEB", How bone marrow transplantation changed my life with RDEB, St. John’s Annual Oration, St. John’s Dermatological Society, London, England. June 02, 2016.
"Epidermolysis Bullosa: The Worst Disease You Never Heard of", Epidermolysis Bullosa: The Worst Disease You Never Heard of, Stem for Life Foundation and Pontifical Council for Culture: Third International Conference, How Science, Technology, Information and Communication Will Impact Society, Vatican, Rome, Italy. April 25, 2016.
"Severe recessive epidermolysis bullosa and stem cell transplantation", Severe recessive epidermolysis bullosa and stem cell transplantation, Epidermolysis Bullosa and Stem Cell Transplant Symposium, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, England. April 05, 2016.
"Gene, Cell and Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine", Gene, Cell and Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine, AMIT Award Program, Seoul, Korea Republic of. November 20, 2015.
"Three Body Problem of Cell and Gene Therapy for Epidermolysis Bullosa", Three Body Problem of Cell and Gene Therapy for Epidermolysis Bullosa, European Society of Pediatric Dermatology, ESPD Summer School, Lausanne, Switzerland. June 26, 2015.
"Regenerative Medicine: From ideas to clinical practice", Regenerative Medicine: From ideas to clinical practice, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague, Czech Republic. April 29, 2015.
"Gene Editing for Systemic Therapy of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa", Gene Editing for Systemic Therapy of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, VIII Symposium Epidermolysis Bullosa, DebRA International, Santiago, Chile. December 05, 2014.
"Blood and Marrow Transplantation for Severe Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa", Blood and Marrow Transplantation for Severe Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, VIII Symposium Epidermolysis Bullosa, DebRA International, Santiago, Chile. December 05, 2014.
"Cellular and Subcellular Therapy for Extracellular Matrix Disorders", Cellular and Subcellular Therapy for Extracellular Matrix Disorders, A*STAR, Singapore. November 03, 2014.
"Gene Therapy for Fanconi Anemia: International platform", Gene Therapy for Fanconi Anemia: International platform, International Fanconi Anemia Gene Therapy Working Group, Milan, Italy. October 16, 2014.
"Gene Therapy for Human Disease: From ideas to clinical practice", Gene Therapy for Human Disease: From ideas to clinical practice, Institute of Klinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague, Czech Republic. June 26, 2014.
"Dyskeratosis Congenita-Specific Bone Marrow Transplantation: Less toxicity, better outcomes", Dyskeratosis Congenita-Specific Bone Marrow Transplantation: Less toxicity, better outcomes, Short Telomere Syndrome Conference, Sydney, Australia. June 18, 2014.
"EB Scoring System", EB Scoring System, iscorEB Meeting, Toronto, Canada. June 06, 2014.
"Cellular Therapy: Concepts and plans", Cellular Therapy: Concepts and plans, Osaka, Japan. February 14, 2014.
"Gene and Cell Therapy in Regenerative Medicine", Gene and Cell Therapy in Regenerative Medicine, European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy and SETGyC Collaborative Congress, Madrid, Spain. October 26, 2013.
"Update on Epidermolysis Bullosa", Update on Epidermolysis Bullosa, International Working Group for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Leiden, Netherlands. September 14, 2013.
"Stem Cell Therapy for Epidermolysis Bullosa", Stem Cell Therapy for Epidermolysis Bullosa, Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization Gordon Conference, Lucca, Italy. May 16, 2013.
"Bone Marrow Transplantation Has Better Outcomes than Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa", Bone Marrow Transplantation Has Better Outcomes than Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, Plenary Session, Society of Investigative Dermatology, Edinburgh, Scotland. May 09, 2013.
"Blood to Skin: Transplantation and regenerative medicine", Blood to Skin: Transplantation and regenerative medicine, Keynote Lecture, Charles University Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic. April 25, 2013.
"Transplantation for Bone Marrow Failures", Transplantation for Bone Marrow Failures, 6th International Symposium on MDA and Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes in Childhood, Prague, Czech Republic. November 07, 2012.
"Refining Bone Marrow Transplantation in EB: Where now? And where next?", Refining Bone Marrow Transplantation in EB: Where now? And where next?, DebRA International Conference, Marbella, Spain. November 05, 2012.
"Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Epidermolysis Bullosa", Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Epidermolysis Bullosa, Nobel Conference on Hematopoietic Stem Cells: From Basic Science to Regenerative Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden. June 20, 2012.
Grants & Patents
Selected Grants
Award: "Autologous Revertant Mosaic Fibroblasts for Wound Healing in Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa"
Principal Investigator: Jakub Tolar
Sponsoring Organization: EB Research Partnership
Award Dates: 2022 - 2023
Award: "Skin-targeted Cell Therapy for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa"
Principal Investigator: Jakub Tolar
Sponsoring Organization: NIH/NIAMS R01-AR063070
Award Dates: 2020 - 2025
Patents
Talen-based gene correction. Issued: 2016.
Compositions and Methods for the Treatment of Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Issued: 2014.
TALEN-Based Gene Correction. Issued: 2014.
Cell therapy for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders. Issued: 2011.
MAPC Administration for the Treatment of Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Issued: 2007.
Professional Memberships
American Society of Transplantation
St. John’s Dermatological Society
Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance
European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy
Non-Malignant Strategy Group, Volunteer Co-Leader
Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium
Stem Cell Therapy for Severe Inherited Skin Fragility Disorders Consortium
Society for Investigative Dermatology
Newborn Translational Research Network, SCID Working Group
International Society for Stem Cell Research
European Hematology Association
Society of Pediatric Research
American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
Society for Hematology and Stem Cells
Children’s Oncology Group, Investigator
American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of Academic Health Centers
Royal Society of Medicine, Overseas Fellow
Clinical Summary
Blood and marrow transplantation; Gene therapy for correction of genetic diseases