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Stem Cell Bioprocessing

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TODAY’S RESEARCH, TOMMOROW’S CELLULAR THERAPY

In the Stem Cell Bioprocessing group, we focus on the scalable production of stem cells and their derivatives at sufficient quality and quantity for cell and gene therapy. Furthermore, we have the expertise to screen and test biomaterials for stem cell expansion, maturation and formation of tissue-engineered models for regenerative medicine, drug screening and cultured meat applications.


Focus Areas

  • Process development for scalable human pluripotent and mesenchymal stem cell manufacturing
  • Reprogramming of human induced pluripotent stem cells on microcarriers
  • CRISPR activation-mediated cell differentiation
  • Media development for stem cell cultures


Our Capabilities

Microcarrier-based Bioreactors

Microcarriers

  • Accelerated reprogramming
  • Robust
  • Scalable
  • High yield

Media Formulation for Stem Cells

Stem Cell Media Formulation

  • Serum-free
  • Xeno-free

Cell Differentiation

Stem Cell Differentiation

  • CRISPR activation-mediated
  • Microcarrier-based
  • High yield


Our Technologies

All-In-One Platform for Reprogramming on Microcarriers (RepMC)

All-In-One Platform for Reprogramming on Microcarriers (RepMC)

  • Speed: Accelerate reprogramming by 7 days faster than monolayer
  • Robust: Ability to expand and efficiently differentiate to the three germ-layers, heart cells and blood cells
  • Various Cell Sources: fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, T cells and CD34+ blood stem cells
  • Automation Ready: Platform is also amenable to automation for processing more donor samples in a small footprint, allowing robotic processes to replace manual handling


Microcarrier-based Bioreactor System

Microcarrier-based Bioreactor System

  • Robust: tested and proven in human pluripotent and mesenchymal stem cell expansion
  • Scalable: up to 5L while maintaining pluripotency of stem cells
  • High yield: 3 to 10-fold higher than conventional 2D cultures


OUR TRACK RECORD

Featured Publications

  • Alan Tin Lun Lam, Valerie Ho, Svetlan Vassilev, Shaul Reuveny and Steve Kah Weng Oh (2022) An allied reprogramming, selection, expansion and differentiation platform for creating hiPSC on microcarriers. Cell Proliferation 55:e13256
  • Alan Tin-Lun Lam, Alison P. Lee, Premkumar Jayaraman, Kah Yong Tan, Deepak Raghothaman, Hsueh Lee Lim, He Cheng, Lihan Zhou, Andy Hee-Meng Tan, Shaul Reuveny and Steve Oh (2021) Multiomics analyses of cytokines, gene, miRNA, and pathway regulatory networks in human mesenchymal stem cells expanded in stirred microcarrier-spinner cultures. Stem Cell Research 53:102272
  • Jaichandran Sivalingam, Yu SuE, Zhong Ri Lim, Alan T.L. Lam, Alison P. Lee, Hsueh Lee Lim, Hong Yu Chen, Hong Kee Tan, Tushar Warrier, Jing Wen Hang, Nazmi B. Nazir, Andy H.M. Tan, Laurent Renia, Yuin Han Loh, Shaul Reuveny, Benoit Malleret and Steve K.W. Oh (2020) A Scalable Suspension Platform for Generating High-Density Cultures of Universal Red Blood Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 16(1): 182-197
  • Alan Tin-Lun Lam, Allen Kuan-Liang Chen, Sherwin Qi-Peng Ting, Shaul Reuveny and Steve Kah-Weng Oh (2016) Integrated processes for expansion and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in suspended microcarriers cultures. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 473(3): 764-8

Featured Publications

  • Microcarriers for stem cell culture (2014)
  • Culture of pluripotent and multipotent cells on microcarriers (2014)

The Team

Alan Lam

Dr Alan Lam

alan_lam@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Senior Scientist II

PhD in Biochemistry (2003), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Research Focus / Interest

  • Scalable production of human embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells and human mesenchymal stem cells and its differentiated cells
  • Medium development for large-scale expansion of mesenchymal stem cells in bioreactors
Harish Handral

Dr Harish Handral

harish_handral@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Senior Scientist I

PhD in Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (2017), National University of Singapore, Singapore

Research Focus / Interest

  • Developing novel microcarriers for scalability of human mesenchymal stem cells
  • Development of efficient serum-free and xeno-free media for cell isolation, propagation, and even differentiation.
  • To develop stem cell manufacturing assets in partnership with industries for stem cell separation, quality assays and scale-up bioprocessing
  • To deliver allogeneic stem cell manufacturing technologies for therapeutic applications.

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