Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects

Medical therapies using undifferentiated cells (stem and progenitor) are emerging and are defining a new era in regenerativemedicine. Our proposed research study targets the development of a cell encapsulation process for delivery to patientssuffering from severe life-threatening disorders. Specifically, we are working with Northern Therapeutics, a Canadianbiotechnology company that has developed new and effective autologous cell therapies for pulmonary diseases. Afundamental limitation to new cell therapies is the currently cumbersome cell pre-conditioning process that limits thewidespread commercialization of their technology. To address this unmet and critical cell processing need, we haveassembled a team of researchers from both physics and the life sciences to develop a scalable microfluidics-based stem cellencapsulation procedure that will allow for the rapid and reproducible manufacture of single-cell capsules. These capsuleswill be supplemented with novel biomimetic matrices that include bionanoparticles specifically designed to enhance cellfunction and organ-specific engraftment, and this way enhance the therapeutic effect of the cells. If successful this researchwill be widely applicable to the field of regenerative medicine, be of marked benefit to chronically ill patients, aide in theglobal competitiveness of a Canadian company, and stimulate economic development in Canada in an emerging newmarket.