This Tuesday, October 11th, the COST Action HAPLO-iPS project launch was held in an online conference. During the day, different management positions were appointed, and the coordinators of the seven previously defined work groups were assigned.
The COST Action HAPLO-iPS project, led by Dr. Anna Veiga, group leader of IDIBELL and P-CMRC and director of the Barcelona Cell Lines Bank, will create a collaboration network for the generation of stem cells (iPS) homozygous with the most frequent HLA haplotypes. These iPS could be used for the production of cells for cell therapy clinical trials compatible with a significant percentage of the population. The project will develop a data collection system for these lines.
The challenge will be approached essentially by networking with all the stakeholders involved sharing knowledge, standardizing methodology, and developing an educational training program for researchers.
This network includes all relevant stakeholders: hiPS generation centers or banks, umbilical cord blood banks, cell production centers, immunology experts, quality control experts, regulatory bodies, national agencies and bioethics experts.
HAPLO-iPS also promotes the participation of researchers from countries with less research activity. These participants will have access to research centers of excellence, training courses, and mentoring programs for young researchers.
Overall, this proposal will pioneer new approaches that will advance the generation of haplo-selected hiPS for clinical application in cell therapy for patients’ benefit.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).