Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to be used as Research Models and as Starting Materials in Cellular Therapies

  • IRAS ID

    119917

  • Contact name

    Paul De Sousa

  • Contact email

    paul.desousa@roslincells.com

  • Sponsor organisation

    Roslin Cells Ltd.

  • Research summary

    Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS cells) are a type of stem cell which can be turned into other cell types of the body (e.g. muscle, skin, liver). These iPS cells are similar to ‘natural’ pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells, but are considered to be more ethically sound as they do not require the destruction of embryos to obtain them. They are created by taking adult (mature) cells and inducing these to change them into iPS, using mechanisms which change the expression of specific genes in the cells.
    These iPS cells are extremely valuable to research and the development of cell based therapies. In particular they provide promise that personalised therapies can be made for people with specific diseases.
    This study will undertake to procure adult tissues, including skin and blood, from which iPS cells will be derived to be used for further research and/or development of new drugs and therapeutics for a wide range of diseases. The iPS cell lines created may themselves be suitable as starting materials for the manufacture of cell based medicines.

  • REC name

    HSC REC A

  • REC reference

    14/NI/1027

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Jul 2014

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion