Current Research

Clinical expansion of mesenchymal stem cells from peripheral blood.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are a powerful tool in cellular therapies and regenerative medicine. Our laboratory has recently developed a novel adhesion-independent method for expansion of MSCs. This expansion protocol results in a plentiful population of homogeneous cells that retain their progenitor identity during long-term culture. However, the cells used in this work were of a unique population, derived from the filter-retained marrow used for total bone marrow transplants. Clinical transplant practice is moving away from traditional bone marrow donation as simpler peripheral blood transplant procedures achieve similar success rates. As such, a more common-place and attainable source of MSCs needs to be identified, and these cells successfully expanded to a homogeneous and plentiful population.

One possible cell source is peripheral blood. Increasing evidence suggests that these cells, produced by marrow, are present in the blood en route to various mesenchymal tissues for maintenance and repair. Moreover, blood is readily available; therefore, cellular therapies will no longer be limited by the lack of donor cells. Additionally, a patient can supply their own cells before disease treatment, thereby dramatically reducing graft-rejection, as seen with current allogenic transplants. To date, this proposed population has only been cultured in adhesion conditions, which are inefficient for clinical-scale production. Therefore, the objective of my research is two-fold: first, to develop isolation and characterization protocols to select an MSC-containing cell fraction from the blood. Second, the serum-free expansion protocols previously devleoped need to be expanded and modified such that the production of blood-derived MSCs is optimized.

Background

My previous research experience (gathered through a variety of student research positions) includes the development of stem cell culture protocols, MRI-sequencing/analysis technique design, and development of surface chemistry/coating adhesion analysis techniques.

Awards and Scholarships

• NSERC

Publications

D. Chvedov, E. L. B. Logan, "Surface charge properties of oxides and hydroxides formed on metal substrates determined by contact angle titration," Colloids and Surfaces, vol. 240, pp. 211-233, 2004.

Personal Interests

Martial arts, running, skiing (alpine & water), house-hunting.