Page 3 - R&D News June 2021
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oping human tissues or organs
as spare parts, given the right
conditions.”
cell lines from normal skin “Besides, disease-specific on Stem Cell and iPSC
cells and haemopoietic stem iPSCs that carry disease fea- Research for knowledge trans-
cells. These mother cells can tures or genes are pivotal plat- fer has been conducted annual-
be used for future differentia- forms to understand the patho- ly since 2013. Thirdly, the
tion into the intended mature genesis and progression of a Joint Symposium between
cell type for regeneration and certain disease starting from CSCR and the University
repair. These generated iPSC stem cell levels as well as for System of Taiwan (UST,
clones are now cryopreserved drug testing and discovery,” Taiwan), which is conducted
in a liquid nitrogen tank and she emphasised. once every two years, has been
being trade-marked for distri- held since 2015. Last but not
bution purpose from 2020. least, in 2019, CSCR collabo-
rated with multiple local part-
When asked about how their ners, including Hospital Uni-
research project impacts social versiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
development, economic devel- (HUKM), Universiti Malaya
opment, academic develop- (UM), Cryocord Sdn Bhd and
ment, etc., Dr Leong shared, Taylor University to organise
“iPSC technology allows the “iPSC Symposium &
reprogramming of terminally Workshop: Future of Personal-
differentiated normal somatic ised Regenerative Medicine”
cells into a pluripotent state. aimed to promote as well as
iPSC shares similar properties provide knowledge and skill
with the naturally occurring transfer of iPSC technology.
pluripotent cells such as em- “This is our effort to grow this
bryonic stem cells (ESC), aspect of biotechnology revo-
obtained from fertilised ovum. lution that is happening along-
iPSC can then be differentiated The microscopic images of iPSC colonies taken side the 4th Industrial Revolu-
using a light microscope. It shows typical stem
into target cell types (e.g. heart cell morphology with small round cells densely tion, a small contribution by
packed with no gaps and with clear borders.
muscle, blood cells) for thera- researchers from FMHS,
peutic purposes. In addition, Sharing significant activities UTAR!”, commented by Prof
iPSC has unlimited cell renew- on iPSC, Dr Leong enthused, Cheong.
al properties and can be main- “Firstly, in 2012, CSCR con-
tained perpetually in liquid ducted the first IPSC Work- The FMHS iPSC researchers
nitrogen. With these unique shop assisted by Dr Shigeki are currently working to
properties, iPSCs have great Sugii from the Institute of Bio- expand the list of disease-spe-
potential to support research engineering and Nanotechnol- cific iPSC lines. So far, they
and development in regenera- ogy (IBN), A*STAR Team, have shared iPSC with local
tive medicine, such as devel- where CSCR members and researchers from e.g. Cryocord
outsiders were trained on tips
and tricks of iPSC technology.
Secondly, the UTAR Seminar
