Program Type: Translation


Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma

Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]

Development of a human stem cell-derived inhibitory neuron therapeutic for the treatment of chronic focal epilepsy

Translational Candidate A cellular therapeutic comprised of inhibitory nerve cells produced from human stem cells Area of Impact Drug-resistant chronic temporal lobe epilepsy Mechanism of Action The product candidate is intended to be delivered into the seizure focus, integrate, and secrete the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA to rebalance neural electrical activity in the brain and eliminate/reduce […]

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells for Severe Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Translational Candidate H9 (WA09) embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells with a spinal cord identity (H9-NSCsc) Area of Impact Severe spinal cord injury Mechanism of Action Our candidate therapy for SCI uses human neural stem cells in a gel-like matrix containing growth factors. We aim to fill the injury site with replacement neural stem cells […]

BCMA/CS1 Bispecific CAR-T Cell Therapy to Prevent Antigen Escape in Multiple Myeloma

Translational Candidate A single-chain bispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting BCMA and CS1 will be used to in autologous T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Area of Impact Translational candidate will enable treatment of patients with heterogeneous or BCMA– multiple myeloma and prevent cancer relapse due to antigen loss. Mechanism of Action BCMA and CS1 are […]

An optimized human neural stem cell line (hNSC) for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Translational Candidate Shef6.1 embryonic cells will be enriched for a neural stem cell marker, CD133. These human neural stem cells (hNSCs) are designated as S6.133.hNSCs. Area of Impact Shef6.1 human neural stem cells will be tested as a treatment for memory & behavioral deficits resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mechanism of Action Traumatic brain […]

Neural Stem cell-mediated oncolytic immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

Translational Candidate A clinically tested tumor-tropic neural stem cell (NSC) platform for effective distribution of oncolytic virotherapy to ovarian cancer metastases Area of Impact This NSC-delivered virotherapy approach will lead to a more efficacious, less toxic treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer and chemoresistent cells. Mechanism of Action CRAd-S-pk7 is a tumor specific replication-competent adenovirus driven […]

Ex Vivo Gene Editing of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells for the Treatment of X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome

Translational Candidate Human hematopoietic stem cells that have been gene-corrected at the CD40L gene to treat patients with X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome Area of Impact These studies will bring stem cell gene therapy for XHIM closer to the clinic especially those without an HLA match or infections too severe for HSCT. Mechanism of Action The CRISPR/Cas9 […]

PRPE-SF, polarized hESC-derived RPE Soluble Factors, as a Therapy for Early Stage Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration

Translational Candidate PRPE-SF is a preparation of soluble factors from polarized retinal pigment epithelial cells, to support survival of photoreceptors in dry AMD (dAMD). Area of Impact dAMD with early geographic atrophy (RPE dysfunction/photoreceptor degeneration) that does not involve the fovea, with visual acuity better than 20/80. Mechanism of Action PRPE-SF is composed of multiple […]

Clinical Translation of Autologous Regenerative Cell Therapy for Blindness

Translational Candidate We are studying autologous induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (AiPSC-RPE) cells for the treatment of maculopathies. Area of Impact Maculopathies (including AMD, SMD, & MMD) may be treated with AiPSC-RPE cells to replace RPE and support photoreceptors to improve vision. Mechanism of Action AiPSC-RPE cells replace RPE lost to disease, and […]

NeuBright, a purified allogeneic cell therapy product for treatment of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration

Translational Candidate NeuBright is an allogeneic cryopreserved neural stem cell therapy product Area of Impact Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Mechanism of Action Similar to RPE cells, NeuBright cells restore phagocytic function to the retina, secrete anti-inflammatory and trophic factors (VEGF and BDNF), maintain retinal integrity and prevent vision decline. Cells migrate radially from transplant […]