Developing scalable and standardised manufacturing methods for human multipotent stem cells
PhD Supervisor(s): Chris Hewitt, Karen Coopman
Contact Email: t.r.j.heathman@lboro.ac.uk
Undergraduate Degree: MEng Chemical Engineering (University of Bath)
PhD Summary
The successful translation of cell based therapies from “bench to bedside” represents a significant challenge, demanding economically scalable processes with the ability to consistently deliver safe and effective products. This will require an innovative approach to process development stepping away from a healthcare evolution and into a healthcare revolution. This project aims to develop a microcarrier based stirred culture system for scalable expansion of allogeneic bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells to treat disorders of the skeletal system. We will be taking a quality engineering approach to build a comprehensive knowledge base of how various process parameters such as reactor & impeller dimensions, microcarrier type and culture media will affect the product critical-to-quality attributes. From this enhanced process understanding we will develop a control strategy to ensure acceptable overall product quality throughout operational scale up which is critical for regulatory approval and successful commercialisation.
Skills & Techniques
