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EBiSC2 – A sustainable European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Europe’s ethical stem cell bank is exponentially expanding its utility and reach

Stem cell research holds tremendous promise yet has historically raised ethical issues about the moral aspects of using human embryos. Over the last decade, a surprising discovery has evolved to change the face of stem cell research. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult human somatic cells, typically skin or blood cells, that are genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Europe now maintains an iPSC bank and EBiSC2 is working on the framework that will boost its diversity, standardisation and ability to serve academic and commercial research with a sustainable business plan.

Objective

EBiSC2 builds on the achievements of the European Bank for iPSCs (EBiSC1) in centralising existing capacities across Europe in a unique banking and distribution infrastructure for research use in response to the increasing demand for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Significant progress towards this aim has been made by EBiSC1; further resources, however, are required to ensure self-sustainability. Key partners of EBiSC1 who have delivered major assets of the current bank, join efforts to establish EBiSC2 as self-sustainable, central bank.
Based on a gap analysis of the EBiSC1 endeavours towards sustainability, and focussing on user demand, scientific excellence and productivity, EBiSC2 will deploy a business strategy for a sustainable, non-for-profit bank providing access to disease-relevant and quality-controlled iPSCs, along with comprehensive data and freedom to operate for academic and commercial use. To meet evolving requirements from industry and academia, the cell catalogue will be constantly enriched through on-demand generation of new iPSC lines, including gene-edited lines and isogenic controls, iPSC-derived and progenitor cells. EBiSC2 will distribute cell lines and develop a range of additional cell services (incl. screening panels of disease-relevant iPSC and control lines in ready-to-use-formats) to extend its offer, while reducing operational costs through state-of-the-art upscaling and automation enabling bulk production of standardised high-quality cells. Proof-of-concept studies performed jointly by academia and industry will demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the lines for disease modelling and screening and enrich the EBiSC2 catalogue with extensive data.
To bundle resources, EBiSC2 focuses on collaboration with iPSC programmes and aims to serve as central hub for EU-funded projects to bank their iPSC lines, and thus, enable long-term access by the research community to the results of European investments.

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Call for proposal

H2020-JTI-IMI2-2017-13-two-stage

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Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
Net EU contribution
€ 2 841 583,93
Address
Hansastrasse 27c
80686 Munchen
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Other funding
€ 305 500,00

Participants (18)

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EC signature date 28 February 2019
Last update: 19 July 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/821362

European Union, 2023