Vitro Diagnostics Inc. (fka VODG)

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Lane Gilchrist...VODG collaboration......

James Musick's blog post on December 19 contains some interesting statements and a quote from Lane Gilchrist, regarding a Vitro Biopharma collaboration with researchers at the City College of New York (CCNY)......

Stem Cell Culture Depends on Extracellular Materials: Vitro Biopharma Expands its Collaboration with CCNY Researchers to Develop Novel Cell Culture Materials

Vitro Biopharma recently filed a new patent application for its novel technology of stem cell generation. The new patent includes several procedures to culture adult stem cells known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Central to the new technology is the concept of combining specific cell culture media formulations (a complex solution of nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, etc used to culture cells) together with specific extracellular matrix materials. While cell culture procedures have traditionally involved use of styrene plastic containers such as plates or flasks, it is becoming increasingly clear that use of this artificial surface may impede clinical use of the resultant cells. A goal of modern stem cell culture is to more closely mimic physiological conditions of the native stem cell niche as stem cell scientists move towards more rigorous and regulatory compliant manufacturing procedures needed to generate stem cells for clinical use. Extracellular materials include solid materials which attach to and affect stem cells. The extracellular space of bone marrow includes several different biopolymers such as collagen, fibronectin, etc that compose essential aspects of the MSC local, or niche, environment. Such factors impact stem cell proliferation and differentiation and are known to be critical signaling agents in the determination of stem cell functional properties.

I met Lane Gilchrist, Ph.D., at a Keystone Scientific Symposium in 2010 concerning technology related to induced-pluripotent stem cells. Recently, Drs. Gurdon and Yamanaka received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work in the discovery of methods to genetically reprogram adult cells to achieve pluripotency (the ability to differentiate into any cell type). Lane and I both share the vision for the crucial role of extracellular matrix materials in stem cell functioning. Recently, Dr. Gilchrist and a team of scientists at the City College of New York (CCNY) where Lane is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, received funding of a grant entitled “Biomimetic Ligand Display in Proteolipid Hybrid Matrices to Direct Stem Cell Chondrogenesis” from the National Science Foundation. The co-investigators included Steve Nicoll (CCNY BME: Biomaterials for tissue engineering), Raymond Tu (CCNY ChE-Biomolecular engineering) and Sihong Wang (CCNY BME-Biomedical microdevices in cellular engineering). The grant is for a three-year period and I am a consultant on this grant. Thus, I will be providing consultation related to the biological aspects of the effects of bioengineered materials on the functional/clinical properties of stem cells. I am very pleased to be assisting the CCNY team to achieve their goals. Also, since Dr. Gilchrist and I realize the central role of extracellular matrices on stem cell function, we are working to expand our collaboration to include additional technology/product developments with perceived commercial impact on the clinical development of stem cell-based therapies.

Dr. Gilchrist said, “Dr. Musick and I share interests and a passion for contribution to the evolution of stem cell technology to its full potential. I look forward to working with Dr. Musick on our grant and furthermore, in subsequent commercialization of products based on novel, bioengineered scaffolds which mimic the native niche environment of stem cells.”

http://vitrobiopharma.com/2012/12/19/stem-cell-culture-depends-on-extracellular-materials-vitro-biopharma-expands-its-collaboration-with-ccny-researchers-to-develop-novel-cell-culture-materials/

Lane Gilchrist.....

http://bme.ccny.cuny.edu/people/faculty/lgilchrist