Roslin Cells Limited

Platform technologies underpinning human embryonic stem cell derivation (R0136)

Licence holder: Dr Paul De Sousa

Lay Summary:

The aim of our research is to derive human embryonic stem cells in a manner which would permit those cells to be used in developing treatments for patients with degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and diabetes.

Current techniques for deriving stem cells use products which are themselves derived from human or animal cells. Furthermore these techniques are conducted in standard laboratory facilities. This means there is a risk that the cells derived in this way could acquire a disease-producing agent, such as a virus, which could be passed on to subsequent generations of those cells. Consequently, no cells derived in this way, or arising from cells derived in this way, can be transplanted into a patient.

Our research will investigate ways to eliminate the current reliance on human/animal cell based products and we will also develop techniques and protocols to carry out this work in "clean room" facilities. If we are successful, the stem cells we produce could be used as the starting point for producing cells to be used in therapies to address degenerative diseases.

Our research will also investigate the isolation of human embryonic stem cells from eggs and embryos which are clinically unsuitable for infertility treatment. To achieve this we will use methods to mature and/or activate the egg or embryo. If successful, embryonic stem cells will be derived from eggs or embryos which could not have been used in the donor's infertility treatment. Our research will not involve fertilising eggs with sperm. Instead eggs which are either immature or which failed to fertilise will be activated artificially. If we can isolate embryonic stem cells as a result of this process, they will contain only maternal genetic material. Such cells would allow further research into the influence of maternal genes on the development of the embryo.