Objective There is an urgent clinical requirement for appropriate bone substitutes that are able to replace current autologous and allogeneic grafting procedures for the repair of diseased or damaged skeletal tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), found predominantly in the bone marrow, are able to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and tenogenic lineages, thus offering considerable therapeutic potential for tissue engineering applications. However, invasive extraction procedures and insufficient viable cell yields have necessitated the identification of alternative tissue sources of MSCs. Growing evidence suggests that umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains a population of rare MSCs that are able to undergo multilineage differentiation.The aim of this proposal is optimise the isolation and expansion of MSCs from human UCB (CB-MSCs). The differentiation capacity of CB-MSCs will be examined, with a specific focus on osteogenesis. The CB-MSCs will be characterised by genomic, proteomic and bioimpedance profiling and compared to MSCs isolated from human bone marrow as well as embryonic stem cells. Full bioinformatics integration of datasets will identify specific and/or novel signalling factors associated with CB-MSCs. The immunophenotype and alloreactivity of CB-MSCs will be determined. Comparative analyses of the population doubling times, telomere length and telomerase activity will identify the lifespan of CB-MSCs. Novel expansion techniques will be combined with scale-up procedures and the generation of CB-MSC lines for banking using optimised cryopreservation protocols. In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility assays using a range of biomimetic scaffolds will be exploited, complementing in vivo homing and engraftment models. Our integrated approach using complementary expertise will provide a timely and thorough evaluation of CB-MSCs and define appropriate routes for their therapeutic implementation. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologytissue engineeringmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation Programme(s) FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) LSH-2004-1.2.4-6 - Exploring the potential of human umbilical cord blood stem cells for application other than allogeneic haematopoietic transplantations Call for proposal FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF YORK EU contribution No data Address Heslington YORK United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF ODENSE Denmark EU contribution No data Address Kloevervaenget 6 ODENSE See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK, ODENSE Denmark EU contribution No data Address Campusvej 55 ODENSE See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V Germany EU contribution No data Address Hansastraße 27C MÜNCHEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address University Park NOTTINGHAM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITÄT HEIDELBERG Germany EU contribution No data Address Seminarstrasse 2 HEIDELBERG See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ANGEL BIOTECHNOLOGY LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address 50 Broadway LONDON See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ECBIO - INVESTIGAÇÃO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM BIOTECNOLOGIA, S.A. Portugal EU contribution No data Address Lab 4.11, Edif IBET/ITQB, Av República OEIRAS See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data REGENTEC LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address BioCity Nottingham, Pennyfoot Street NOTTINGHAM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ANGEL BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS PLC United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address BROADWAY 50 LONDON See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data