Improving the Clinical Utility of Umbilical Cord Blood Donations by Ex-Vivo Expansion Using Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

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This project will assess the feasibility of improving the clinical utility of umbilical cord blood (UCB) through ex vivo expansion mediated by co-culture with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We have patented technology for the production pluripotent stem cell derived MSCs, which means that we can supply these cells in almost limitless quantities. The haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells found in UCB are of immense clinical value and our MSCs exhibit several advantages over bone marrow derived MSCs. Over half of all UCB units cannot be used clinically as they lack sufficient quantities of haematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. This feasibility project will build on patented and other prior work and create the opportunity to establish a significant business with important clinical impact.