A €3.5 million EU funded collaborative research project aimed at revolutionising the processing of high quality adult stem cells has been launched at NUI Galway.
Stem cells have shown tremendous potential for the repair and regeneration of a large range of tissues and organs. However, the translation of this potential into functional clinical therapies requires large numbers of stem cells, explains a spokesperson for the university.
“PurStem [the title of the project] aims to develop methods for producing adult stems calls in a safe and effective manner on an industrial scale suitable for clinical applications.”
The project brings leading researchers in stem cell science and regenerative therapy from across Europe together with small to medium enterprises with specific industrial technologies and expertise.
Professor Frank Barry of the Regenerative Medicine Institute at NUI Galway and co-ordinator of PurStem says a consistent and plentiful supply of well characterised stem cells is essential to realise the potential of these new therapies.
“There has been relatively little progress in the development of new culture technologies for the large scale manufacture of adult stem cells. There is now a strong possibility that this limited ability to produce stem cells will result in delays to the translation of new therapies to the clinic.”
The team involved in PurStem seek to address the challenge of current limitations on producing adult stem cells by standardising existing adult stem cell preparation methods in partner laboratories, devising new reagents and media formulations for expansion and differentiation and by advancing Good Manufacturing Practice capabilities for production.
The collaborative research led by NUI Galway’s REMEDI will also include the University of Genoa, Italy; Ovagen International Ltd., Ireland; the University of Leeds, UK; Pintail Ltd., Ireland; Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic; and ProCure Ltd., Ireland.
