Researchers from UBC’s faculty of medicine have been awarded over $1.6 million from Canada’s Stem Cell Network (SCN) to advance four regenerative medicine research projects and clinical trials.
The funding is part of a $8.92 million investment to support 24 research projects and clinical trials across the country, with 23 partner organizations committing $9.44 million of in kind or cash support. The UBC projects will advance research in a range of areas including muscular dystrophy, diabetes, protein-based therapies, and heart health.
Traditionally powered by stem cells, regenerative medicine focuses on replacing, repairing, or regenerating human cells, tissues, and organs. The power of regenerative medicine is in its potential to halt or reverse disease instead of simply alleviating symptoms.
Faculty of medicine-led projects:
Accelerating Clinical Translation Awards
Principal Investigator: Dr. Bruce Verchere, Department of Surgery
Faculty of medicine co-investigators: Drs. Timothy Kieffer (Cellular and Physiological Sciences), Megan Levings (Surgery) and Francis Lynn (Surgery)
Project: Genetic engineering of hESC-derived insulin-producing cells to improve graft outcomes in type 1 diabetes
SCN Funding: $600,000
Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Zandstra, School of Biomedical Engineering
Project: PSC-derived immune cells as an advanced delivery vehicle for protein therapeutics
SCN Funding: $400,000
Fueling Biotechnology Partnerships Awards
Principal Investigator: Dr. Fabio Rossi, School of Biomedical Engineering
Project: Bone targeted EP4 agonists as therapeutics for muscular dystrophy
SCN Funding: $399,821
Impact Awards
Principal Investigator: Dr. Zachary Laksman, Department of Medicine’s Division of Cardiology, School of Biomedical Engineering
Project: Development of high-throughput assays to stratify cardiotoxic drug risk by sex and genotype
SCN Funding: $249,997