VITA 34 and Hannover Medical School start project on iPS cells

09-Jun-2010 - Germany

VITA 34 International AG starts a joint research project on the production of so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from umbilical cord blood in cooperation with the Hannover Medical School (MHH).

In this project, VITA 34 and a MHH team under management of Prof. Dr. Ulrich Martin work on the reprogramming of umbilical cord blood cells so that they show the properties of embryonic stem cells which are then able to evolve into different types of body tissue cells. iPS cells are considered to be a particularly promising research approach to achieve an efficient stem cell therapy. The project is funded by the Federal State of Saxony and the European Regional Development Fund with an amount of almost 0.8m Euro. The project is scheduled until April 2013.

The possible potential of iPS cells has already been demonstrated in various international research projects. By the use of umbilical cord blood cells for the reprogramming, MHH and VITA 34 pursue an optimal research approach, as umbilical cord blood cells - in contrast to older body cells - are considered to be the ideal primary cells.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Martin, manager of the project at the MHH: 'Cells from umbilical cord blood are very young and genetically almost unaltered. We proceed on the assumption that they are therefore predestined for reprogramming.'

Dr. med. Eberhard Lampeter, CEO of VITA 34, adds: 'I put high hopes in the research on the production of iPS cells from umbilical cord blood. In the long run, we could make further big strides in stem cell therapy, which has been developing more and more rapidly and encouragingly in the past years. This is by the way also reflected in the increasing application of autologous umbilical cord blood stem cells in the treatment of serious diseases.'

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/118722/vita-34-and-hannover-medical-school-start-project-on-ips-cells.html