Ivan’s group research interests focus on the therapeutic potential of human cells for treating a range of diseases, particularly those that become increasingly prevalent in later life that affect neurological, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Throughout the adult body, stem cell populations maintain and replenish local tissues. In addition, the use of patient-specific induced pluripotent cells or directly reprogrammed cells offer considerable scope for therapeutic application.
We aim to address key challenges associated not just with understanding the fundamental biology but also with current engineering challenges that hold back translation of cell therapies from bench to bedside. Some of the key therapeutic platforms, teechnology platforms and clinical targets we work on are listed below. Specific information on relevant projects can be found here.
We aim to address key challenges associated not just with understanding the fundamental biology but also with current engineering challenges that hold back translation of cell therapies from bench to bedside. Some of the key therapeutic platforms, teechnology platforms and clinical targets we work on are listed below. Specific information on relevant projects can be found here.
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OUR RESEARCH
Ivan’s group conduct both academic and industry-focussed work in regenerative medicine bioprocessing. Overarching research themes include process development (e.g. scalable cell culture systems for upstream processing and purification systems/methodologies for downstream processing) and product characterisation (development of identity measurement tools, potency assays and potency enhancement strategies). Example projects and collaborations we are engaged in for each of these categories are illustrated below.
PROCESS DEVELOPMENTA core area of research addresses scalable cell expansion, something that will be critical to meet the industrial scale necessary to make clinical quantities of cells in a cost-effective fashion. Projects and collaborations in this area include:
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A second core area addresses yield and purity of regenerative medicine products. Many of the downstream process technologies needed to deliver safe, highly pure products are sub-optimal or simply do not yet exist. We therefore aim to develop new processes and technologies to enhance yield and purity of products. Current topics and research areas include:
- Process development for isolating and enriching primary olfactory ensheathing cells for stable cell line generation (with Prof Geoffrey Raisman FRS, Mr David Choi, Dr Daqing Li, Dr Ying Li, UCL Neurology)
- Development of downstream processing technologies and processes for purifying exosomes (with Dr Dan Bracewell, UCL Biochemical Engineering; ReNeuron Ltd, UK)
- Application of modified substrates and bioprocess forces to enhance stem cell differentiation and optimise tissue engineering products (Dr Mike Hoare, UCL Biochemical Engineering; Prof Jonathan Knowles, UCL Eastman; Prof HaeWon Kim, Dankook University, Korea; Dr Wojciech Chrzanowski, University of Sydney, Australia)
- Microscale process development platforms to facilitate process transfer and optimisation on novel substrates (with Prof Justin Cooper-White, University of Queensland, Australia)
PRODUCT CHARACTERISATIONOne core area focuses on how we define product attributes. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been utilised in 1200 clinical trials, around 400 of which represent novel candidate therapies for cardiovascular disease. However, we are yet to link appropriate product measurements (in particular, the critical quality attributes: identity and potency) to clinical effectiveness. Instead we rely on measurement of arbitrary surface markers that do not clearly map to desired function of supporting the vascular structures in the injury site. Current research projects and collaborations seeking to address this challenge and deliver products that are functionally fit for purpose include:
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A second core area focusing on the product involves designing new strategies for enhancing product potency. Certainly in the case of MSCs too much emphasis has focused on delivering cells characterised according to attributes of immature cells. The often hostile environment of target physiologic sites is not instructive or permissive to cell maturation to a functional specification and so a research interest focuses on priming cells prior to delivery to obtain a mature, functional state. Project areas include:
For more information on any of the projects or to discuss collaboration opportunities or new projects, contact Ivan on [email protected]
- Development of molecular priming methods to enhance the retention and potency of MSCs at the injury site.
- Production and application of engineered proteins to enhance cell product regenerative characteristics
For more information on any of the projects or to discuss collaboration opportunities or new projects, contact Ivan on [email protected]