A One-Stop-Shop for Disease-Specific Human Stem Cells Allows Scientists to Focus on Research

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be obtained from tissues of people diagnosed with certain diseases, as well as from healthy people, and then used to create certain types of cells. 

Researchers can then use them to conduct experiments.

Creating iPSC lines for specific diseases from scratch is laborious and difficult, and it is more efficient to reuse cell lines created in other projects; however, when researchers separate iPSC lines, cell lines are at risk of transmitting little information about the donor or ethical consent, source or other important data such as genetic abnormalities, and even cell lines can be contaminated. 

In addition, altering the number of cell lines considered to be the same lineage can limit the comparability and reproducibility of the study, not to mention the burden on the researcher to manage the storage, quality control, and distribution of cell lines. 

To address this issue, a public-private partnership was formed in 2014 to create EBiSC, the European Bank for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

What the EBiSC Does?

EBiSC allows researchers to store their cell lines in a centralized repository, ensuring that the cells are stored correctly and allowing them to be distributed to the scientific community through a public catalogue along with their respective datasets. 

In the future, EBiSC plans to include pre-differentiated iPSCs from other types of cell diversity and identification and to develop mass production capabilities.

Acting Director for EBiCS, Dr. Brian Bolton has stated “A typical use case was a research project that contacted EBiSC and asked if the iPSC lines they created could be placed in a bank. 

The EBiSC Review Consent was used to collect primary biological samples, record all details, and then record them in the hPSCreg, a uniquely identified human pluripotent stem cell registry to facilitate traceability.”

An agreement is signed prior to the shipment of the iPSC lines and the vials can then be sent to EBiSC for safe storage (ECACC in the UK is the main distribution center with a stock of all lines. Reflection bench in Germany in Fraunhofer (project coordinator) acts as a fallback). 

Contributors can simply refer other researchers to EBiSC to access their lines. 

Dr. Bolton adds that contributors retain full ownership of their lines and can continue to use and share them as they wish. as well as familial or isogenic control. 

“Since the lines are listed in the public catalog, the impact of your research is clear, and publications and datasets are clearly associated with the respective cell lines. We currently know of more than 100 publications using the EBiSC iPSC series, and perhaps much more is available and in the process of being finalized, ”he said.

Installation and Operation 

The IMI ADAPTED project asked EBiSC to edit genes from four different iPSC lines (male and female, with and without Alzheimer’s) to create ApoE variants (ApoE gene with and without Alzheimer’s). 

Associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease 20 lines are created, stored, controlled, and distributed. 

The partnership with EBiSC allowed ADAPTED to quickly build the lines, Cell lines are spreading internationally, generating significant income while maintaining the sustainability of EBiSC and ADAPTED. 

EBiSC and the subsequent EBiSC2 project meet the interests and needs of both academia and industry. “Obligations to third parties and associated licensing requirements differ from one non-profit organization to another and because of the difference,” said Dr. Andreas Ebnett, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Senior Scientist and EBiSC2 Project Manager. – Profit ”, and the contribution of private partners is very important. “

 “According to him, the knowledge and advice of commercial organizations play a key role in determining further directions of research. “

In recent years, stem cell therapy has become a very promising and cutting-edge research topic. 

The review summarizes the challenges that stem cell therapy needs to overcome in order to gain worldwide acceptance. The wide range of possibilities makes this cutting-edge therapy a turning point in modern medicine, offering hope for incurable diseases. 

After decades of experimentation, stem cell therapy is a game-changer in medicine. 

With each trial, the potential of stem cells increased, although there were still many obstacles to overcome. And the transplant is huge. 

Currently, intractable neurodegenerative diseases are potentially treatable with stem cell therapy.

Induced pluripotency allows the use of the patient’s own cells. 

Tissue banks are growing in popularity as they harvest cells that are the source of regenerative medicine in the fight against current and future diseases. 

With stem cell therapy we have a better chance of prolonging human life than ever before in history. 

The knowledge and advice of commercial organizations play a key role in determining further directions of research.