SC4SM Phase 1

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Stem Cells for Safer Medicines is a public-private collaboration whose objective is to enable the creation a bank of stem cells, open protocols and standardised systems in stem cell technology that will enable consistent differentiation of stem cells into stable homogenous populations of particular cell types, with physiologically relevant phenotypes suitable for toxicology testing in high throughput platforms. The collaboration will draw upon scientific expertise within pharmaceutical companies - especially in relation to safety assessment of new medicines - academic stem cell experts in the UK and seek engagement with third parties including biotechnology companies. Stem Cells for Safer Medicines is therefore interested in the potential of differentiating human stem cells into normal human cells, such as those in the liver (hepatocytes) and heart muscle (cardiomyocytes) for use in the early, high throughput, toxicology screening of potential new medicines. However, substantive scientific hurdles remain that are best tackled by a public-private collaboration.