Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

Extem supplies research grade mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the health research community and isx000D
looking to differentiate themselves by providing a proprietary human derived growth media. MSCs have manyx000D
applications that are important to the future health of Canadians, such as: applications in tissue engineering andx000D
regenerative medicine; drug screening using human tissues prior to clinical trials; and treatment of disease byx000D
modulating (enhancing or suppressing) the immune system. MSCs are typically grown in fetal bovine serumx000D
(FBS), derived from cows. However, in order to avoid xenotropic complications, the stem cell industry isx000D
moving away from products that are derived from non-human species. Other disadvantages of FBS include:x000D
batch to batch variability; unexpected cell growth characteristics; and contamination issues. A betterx000D
standardized human derived solution would solve many of these problems. Pooled Platelet Lysate (PPL) hasx000D
been identified as a viable alternative to FBS. PPL is produced by means of double centrifugation (DC) ofx000D
whole blood. However, existing methods of producing PPL lack rigorous quality control, standardization, andx000D
can activate cells. For example, DC-based PPL can result in an up to 50% loss in cell viability due to activationx000D
of cells under fluid shear stress. Extem needs to develop a more economical solution that integrates beneficialx000D
quality control and standardization procedures. Extem and microinstrumentation expert Dr. Gray at Simonx000D
Fraser University (SFU) propose a low shear, high throughput scalable microfluidic whole blood sorter withx000D
the goal of optimizing designs to result in as many viable platelets as possible over a given time period (highx000D
throughput). Individual chips will be optimized both individually and for use in arrays to increase throughput.x000D
Chips will be designed with the goal of eventual mass production, with manufacturing constraints consideredx000D
in all phases of device design. The development of such a technology will allow Extem and Canadian healthx000D
researchers to remain leaders in the production and application of stem cells by providing MSCs grown in ax000D
cost-effective human-derived media.