3rd Annual “Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Production and Utility in Regenerative Medicine”
2nd October 2012
The Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) generated by reprogramming somatic cells represent an unique opportunity for regenerative medicine. Indeed, hIPSCs can proliferate indefinitely in vitro while maintaining the capacity to differentiate into broad number of cell type. Therefore, hIPSCs could be used to produce an infinite quantity of cell type with a clinical interest. In addition, hIPSCs could enable the production of patient specific cell types which are fully immuno-compatible with the original donor thereby avoiding the need for immune suppressive treatment during cell based therapy. However, recent reports have suggested that epigenetic and genetic anomalies associated with direct reprogramming technology could limit the interest of hIPSCs for in vivo use.
This 3rd Annual event will review the drawback and advantages of hIPSCs for diverse type of clinical applications.
Meeting Chair: Lyn Healy, NIBSCC, South Mimms, UK
THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE 2012 EUROSCICON STEM CELL SERIES
The day before this event there is The Stem Cells: Working Towards Clinical Application - Discussion Forum
See www.regonline.co.uk/discussionstem2012 for more information
9:00 – 9:45 Registration
9:45 – 10:00 Introduction by the Chair: Lyn Healy, NIBSCC, South Mimms, UK
10:00 – 10:30 The UK Stem Cell Bank and induced pluripotent stem cells
Lyn Healy, NIBSCC, South Mimms, UK
A general overview of the UKSCB ‘s work in the area of induced pluripotent stem cells
10:30 – 11:00 Cellular reprogramming and iPS cells for disease modelling
Dr Christian Unger, Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
Mature human cells can be reprogrammed to induce pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by overexpression of genes encoding combinations of transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and Lin28. Karyotypically normal iPS cells have no in vitro expansion limit, retain the genotype of their original donor cell and can differentiate, like embryonic stem (ES) cells, into all cell types of the developing embryo.
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology provides a powerful approach to modelling diseases with a strong genetic basis, to identify new methods for diagnosis, treatment and prevention, for example in Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The approach may also be informative to study cancer initiation and development, especially in paediatric sarcomas. Paediatric cancers most likely originate in embryonic and foetal development and involve genetic aberrations in permissive stem-like cells. Thus they are amenable to modelling using cancer derived pluripotent stem cells that differentiate along pathways typical of the embryo and foetus.
11:00 – 11:30 Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break/networking and trade show
Please try to visit all the exhibition stands during your day at this event. Not only do our sponsors enable Euroscicon to keep the registration fees competitive, but they are also here specifically to talk to you
11:30 – 12:00 Regulation of DNA methylation in mouse pluripotent stem cells
Dr. Petra Hajkova, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London
Cultured preimplantation epiblast gives rise to embryonic stem (ES) cells, but naïve pluripotent stem cells, termed embryonic germ (EG) cells, can also be derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs). Transcriptional profiling using large cohort of genetically matched ES and EG cells revealed that culture environment, rather than cellular origin or derivation procedure, has a dominant effect on global gene expression of pluripotent stem cells. We will discuss how culture environment impacts on the epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation as well as histone modifications) in cultured pluripotent cells and parallels between our observations in vitro and the epigenetic regulation observed in both the preimplantation epiblast and nascent PGCs - cell types which harbour naïve pluripotent capacity in vivo.
12:00 – 12:30 Autologous cell therapy: Induced pluripotent stem cells, direct reprogramming or somatic stem cells?
Dr Patrizia Ferretti , Institute of Child Health, London
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch/networking and trade show
This is also a good time to fill out your feedback forms and any questionnaires
13:30 – 14:30 Question and Answer Session
Delegates will be asked to submit questions to a panel of experts. Questions can be submitted before the event or on the day
14:30 – 15:00 Translating Research Into Viable Clinical Treatments. How to build on 60 years of patient focused clinical delivery
Simon Ellison, National Blood Service, UK
- Utilising open innovation partnerships can deliver treatments and revenue.
- How to generate patient focused manufacturing and scale up.
- Accessing validated national cold supply chains.
15:00 – 15:30 Retinoic acid signalinfg, reprogramming and Sanger Human iPS Cells
Pentao Liu, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
I will describe the profound effects of modulating retinoic acid (RA) signalling on reprogramming. Co-expressing Rarg and Lrh-1 genes with the four Yamanaka factors results in rapid reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts to ground state or naïve iPS cells directly in chemically defined media. I will further describe reprogramming human somatic cells to naïve iPS cells using this technology. These iPS cells, named Sanger Human iPS or SH-iPS cells, resemble naïve mouse ES cells in growth properties, gene expression, signalling dependency, and receptiveness to genetic modification, and represent a potentially new human stem cell resource for both basic research and clinical applications.
15:30 – 16:00 Chairman’s summing up
Dont forget to sign up to Euroscicons’ e-newsletter at www.euroscicon.com/signup.htm to keep up to date with European Life Science news and events and to be notified of the follow up to this event
This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community. This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry.
About the Chair
Dr Lyn Healy is the senior Stem Cell Biologist at the UK Stem Cell Bank, has over 20years experience in the stem cell field working primarily on human and murine haematopoietic stem cells and more recently focused on human ES cells. Lyn leads on the stem cell R&D for the bank.
About the Speakers
Petra Hajkova lab uses in vivo models to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying the naturally occurring reprogramming events. The gained knowledge allows them to design in vitro experimental systems and to use biochemical approaches to investigate further molecular details. They focus on the investigation of molecular mechanisms that underlie the reprogramming events in mouse zygote and developing mouse germ line (primordial germ cells – PGCs). Besides their efforts to decipher the mechanisms responsible for large scale loss of DNA methylation in germ cells and zygotes, they are particularly interested in the cross-talk and regulation between DNA demethylation and large scale chromatin remodelling. As epigenetic reprogramming plays pivotal role in the dedifferentiation and the reversal of cell fate decisions, investigation of molecular pathways underlying such processes provides direct mechanistic links to regeneration and cancer.
Patrizia Ferretti: Over the last few years her research focus has been on plasticity and differentiation potential of progenitor/stem cells and regeneration of spinal cord and craniofacial skeletal tissues in the context of normal and abnormal developmental mechanisms and of systems where regeneration can spontaneously take place, with a view to identifying new approaches to induce repair. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying tissue and organ regeneration in different models will help to devise better strategies for restoring functionality in damaged or diseased human tissues either by stimulating endogenous neural stem cells or by cell grafting approaches. She has identified a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms which play a role in response to injury and repair (e.g. role of PAD enzymes, FGF signaling), and by establishing useful models for the study of stem/progenitor cells in vivo and in vitro. Currently, much focus in her laboratory is on human neural and mesenchymal stem cells for disease modeling and tissue repair. For example, her group is investigating the plasticity and differentiation potential of somatic stem cells, including ADSC (adipose tissue-derived stem cells), that could be used in the development of autologous cell therapies for children with craniofacial birth defects. Altogether, her research on tissue repair/regeneration and stem cells is concerned with basic issues whose elucidation could lead to translation and is closely integrated with the clinical interests of clinical and surgical colleagues at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
Simon Ellison is developing strategies that are enabling the National Blood Service to utilise its technical skills, GMP facilities, and clinical contacts to provide contract manufacturing services to the growing cellular therapy field, under the brand of Clinical Translation Partnerships (CTP). Simon has an MSc in Environmental Science from Newcastle University and subsequently an MBA from Oxford Books University focusing on the management of innovative collaborations. Simon’s career started with Sartorius, managing both national and international commercial channels, and launching new products into emerging markets. He has since worked in a variety of bio-pharmaceutical markets ranging from antibodies to ultra-pure water, delivering novel strategies to take companies forward. Simon now brings these commercial skills into the not-for-profit sector, initially as Commercial Director for the National Pharmacy Association, managing a partnership based turnover of £7m and developing innovative partnerships with Santander and Learn Direct. He now sits on the BIA’s Cellular Therapy & RegenMed Industry Group Advisory Committee, and works within the National Blood Service driving strategies to utilises their clean rooms, skills, knowledge and logistics to help regenerative medicine companies translate their research into commercially viable treatments. Clinical Trial Partnerships (CTP) enables companies, academics and clinicians to develop their production into GMP systems, optimise the processes, and develop viable cold supplies chains in partnership with the National Blood Service. This gives the cellular therapy market access to a unique skill set built within the NHS and currently delivering over 2 million cellular therapies annually.
Pentao Liu obtained his PhD degree at Baylor College of Medicine, and postdoctoral training at National Cancer Institute, USA. He joined the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in September 2003 and is currently a senior group leader. His current research interest lies in understanding the molecular mechanism of reprogramming, pluripotency, induced pluripotent stem cells, immunity and cancer stem cells.
Keywords: iPSC, hepatocyte, liver, CYP p450, translation, supply chain, delivery, GMP, manufacturing,drug, pluripotent stem cell, hepatocyte, pancreas, liver; beta-cell, Stable Karyoytpe, High-throughput efficiency, Embryonic Stem cells, Induced pluripotency, Nanog, neural stem cell, glioblastoma, DNA methylation, reprogramming, iPS cells, reprogramming, Pluripotentcy, STEMCCA, ESGRO 2i, Pluripotency; reprogramming; chromatin signatures; DNA replication timing; histone acetyltransferase p30. somatic stem cells, Stem cells, genetic screen, reprogramming iPS cells
Registration Web Site: www.regonline.co.uk/2012londonstemcellevent
Post expires at 7:36am on Thursday October 4th, 2012
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