Establishment of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Banks in India

Abstract

Stem cell banks are increasingly seen as an essential resource of biological materials for both basic and translational research. As cell-based therapies begin to progress through Phase III clinical trials, there is an increasing need for the development of comprehensive cell banking strategies. There has been a great deal of scientific interest recently generated by the potential therapeutic applications of adult stem cells in human care but there are several challenges regarding quality and safety in clinical applications and a number of these challenges relate to the processing and banking of these cells ex vivo. Stem cell banks provide access to quality-controlled and ethically sourced stem cell lines from different origins and of varying grades. Consequently, stem cell banks are destined to constitute a pillar of the bioeconomy in many countries. Generally, the approaches adopted by tissue banking can be the starting point for cell banking too. Commercial viability is possible only if you have a cost-effective comprehensive, end-to-end cell banking mode that includes proper collection, manufacturing and release criteria, cryopreservation and storage of cells, shipping, delivery, and logistics management of the final cell-based product. By developing an understanding of industry standards and best practices in comparable areas, one can reduce research costs, improve efficiencies, create revenue streams, decrease time to discovery, and increase the likelihood of establishment of cell banks for regular use. This chapter will narrate the various components of cell banking that will eventually help autologous and allogeneic cell-based regenerative products and processes. The focus will be on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) as they are most widely used cell type in clinical development.