iPSCs for cell and gene therapies

Since Shinya Yamanaka (Kyoto University, Japan) detailed the process through which somatic cells can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent stem-cell state, the applications of these induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have spread rapidly throughout the life sciences. One such application involves the incorporation of these cells into the production process for cell and gene therapies, a field that has enjoyed equally rapid expansion during the last decade.

The pluripotency of iPSCs allows them to differentiate into the numerous different cell types required for cell and gene therapies, making them the ideal starting materials for the development process. In this In Focus, we will explore the process-development workflow for cell and gene therapies, the role iPSCs play and the key techniques used to establish an optimal working cell bank for cell and gene therapies.