The discovery of methods to generate pluripotent stem cells from differentiated somatic cells is transforming biomedical research and such methods have been increasingly used in research laboratories. However, current approaches for cell reprogramming are time-consuming and expensive because they often require multiple rounds of treatments. The goal of Easy-iPS was to develop a novel reagent for generation of iPSC from differentiated cells that is highly efficient, easy to use and cost effective. The product is based on helper-dependent adenoviral (HDAd) vectors to deliver efficiently the reprogramming factors to differentiated cells. Although challenges have been found in the production of the vector due to toxicity of the reprogramming factors in the vector-producing cell lines, a strategy to overcome this obstacle has been developed and generated promising results. In conclusion, although more research and commercial development are still needed, this proposal resulted in a new tool for generating pluripotent stem cells.
