PIs: Alan Russell
Co-PIs: Marina Kameneva, William Wagner, Jörg Gerlach, Mark Yazer
Title: Large Scale Human Placenta Progenitor Cell-Derived Erythrocyte Production – Continuous Red Blood Cell Production
Description: In order to provide a practical and ready supply of safe and effective red blood cells (RBC) for the treatment of battlefield trauma, or diseases, a number of fundamental challenges must be overcome. These challenges are associated with current small-scale, variable efficiency in vitro cell expansion and erythrogenic differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC).
A consortium led by Celgene Cellular Therapeutics (CCT) and supported by the University of Pittsburgh/Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, The Ohio State University, Loughborough University and The Automation Partnership has been assembled. This consortium will provide all of the necessary skills (cell biology, hematology, cellular therapeutic process development, bioreactor systems, cells separation technology and automation) to ensure effective and safe research, and RBC product development. The multidisciplinary consortium will develop highly novel and / or unique solutions to this need.
Source: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Term: 09/01/08 – 05/31/09
Amount: $760,804