Optimization of red blood cells production from iPS cells using CombiCult Technology
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Molecular. Genetics & Pop Health
Abstract
My PhD project will focus on the improvement of the differentiation process of red blood cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using Plasticell's Combicult technology. Differentiation of hiPS cells into erythrocytes is a complex process proven difficult to recapitulate in vitro. The main issues that are involved in this process is the understanding of which paracrine and autocrine signals, along with cytokines and other growth factors, that are involved in the differentiation of red blood cells.
In the aim to achieve better differentiation of erythroid cells in vitro, my laboratory has developed a collaboration with Plasticell Company to use one of their new technologies - Combicult. This technology will allow the use of different media, cytokines and growth factors on cell differentiation process and use a combinatorial screen to understand which is the optimal condition to differentiate hiPS in to mature erythroid cells.
At the beginning of this project, and part of the Precision Medicine iCase programme, I will have a three months internship at Plasticell as a researcher. This internship will allow me to comprehend how Combicult technology process works, including the procedure with the hiPS cells into the Combicult technology and the identification of the best protocol using bioinformatics combinatorial method developed by the company. At the end of the internship, it is expected to have the necessary methodology to promote hiPS cells differentiation into red blood cells.
At the moment, one of the main projects ongoing in the lab is the study of erythroid islands from hiPS derived macrophages, and how the formation of this structure and the cell-cell contact endorse the generation of erythroid cells from cord blood cells. For the second part of the project, would be interesting to understand if the formation of erythroid islands, with cells obtained using Combicult technology, facilitate the differentiation and/or maturation of erythroid cells. This study would be placed in the lab after validation of differentiation conditions that the industrial approach has identified. Characterisation of the established method will be also tested in different iPS cell lines available in the Forrester lab.
My project is mostly based in the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM), in Little France, in Lesley Forrester Lab. During this 3.5 year of PhD programme and as part of the post-graduate programme in SCRM I will be attending to seminars, discussion groups, science inductions, workshops and journal clubs. As part of the training for PhD student based at the SCRM, I will submit a 10 week report and present my project proposal and results as part of the internal seminars of the institute, I will submit a 10 month report of the project and present the project evolution at the end of the year (May or June).
In the aim to achieve better differentiation of erythroid cells in vitro, my laboratory has developed a collaboration with Plasticell Company to use one of their new technologies - Combicult. This technology will allow the use of different media, cytokines and growth factors on cell differentiation process and use a combinatorial screen to understand which is the optimal condition to differentiate hiPS in to mature erythroid cells.
At the beginning of this project, and part of the Precision Medicine iCase programme, I will have a three months internship at Plasticell as a researcher. This internship will allow me to comprehend how Combicult technology process works, including the procedure with the hiPS cells into the Combicult technology and the identification of the best protocol using bioinformatics combinatorial method developed by the company. At the end of the internship, it is expected to have the necessary methodology to promote hiPS cells differentiation into red blood cells.
At the moment, one of the main projects ongoing in the lab is the study of erythroid islands from hiPS derived macrophages, and how the formation of this structure and the cell-cell contact endorse the generation of erythroid cells from cord blood cells. For the second part of the project, would be interesting to understand if the formation of erythroid islands, with cells obtained using Combicult technology, facilitate the differentiation and/or maturation of erythroid cells. This study would be placed in the lab after validation of differentiation conditions that the industrial approach has identified. Characterisation of the established method will be also tested in different iPS cell lines available in the Forrester lab.
My project is mostly based in the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM), in Little France, in Lesley Forrester Lab. During this 3.5 year of PhD programme and as part of the post-graduate programme in SCRM I will be attending to seminars, discussion groups, science inductions, workshops and journal clubs. As part of the training for PhD student based at the SCRM, I will submit a 10 week report and present my project proposal and results as part of the internal seminars of the institute, I will submit a 10 month report of the project and present the project evolution at the end of the year (May or June).
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR/R01566X/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2025 | |||
| 2106207 | Studentship | MR/R01566X/1 | 01/09/2018 | 31/05/2022 | Telma Ventura |