SBIR-STTR Award

Generation of Serum- Free Media for Expansion of Human T Lymphocytes and CD34+ HSCs Using High Dimensional Design of Experiments (HD-DoE)
Award last edited on: 3/12/20

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NIGMS
Total Award Amount
$146,531
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
Jan Jensen

Company Information

Trailhead Biosystems Inc

10000 Cedar Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
   (216) 445-3835
   N/A
   www.trailbio.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 11
County: 

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R43GM133241-01
Start Date: 6/10/19    Completed: 6/9/20
Phase I year
2019
Phase I Amount
$146,531
Serum-containing media, which has a number of poorly defined components with varying concentrations, hampers standardization of lymphocyte and hematopoietic stem cell cultures. Serum supplements available in the market such as Human Platelet Lysate (HPL) is not a solution, as their composition remains highly variable with a mix of growth factors, miRNAs, microvesicles, exosomes and thus difficult to standardize due to significant batch to batch variation. Although clinical trials are ongoing with T cells expanded in commercially available serum-free media, they are obliged to be supplemented with human Type AB serum to facilitate optimal growth and T cell activation. By using Trailhead Biosystems' QbD approach on primary human bone marrow isolates and a novel clustering algorithm developed by the company, we previously mapped the fate space of early hematopoiesis and identified completely novel set of input factors related to long-term marrow populating cells (LT-HSC). Given the importance of advanced cell culture systems for successful manufacturing of T cells and HSCs therapies, this project further aims to determine optimal conditions (most effective effector combinations and concentrations) to develop serum-free, chemically defined media formulations by using high- dimensional DoE designs for pathway interrogation along with Multivariate Data Analysis (MVDA). These novel media will be validated for their proliferative response on activation, phenotype, and functionality comparatively against serum substituted media and “serum alternative” commercially available media. This project will deliver two optimized media formulations: T-SFMOPT and HSC- SFMOPT each specific to serum free expansion of T cell and HSCs, respectively. The commercial and clinical impact of the project rests on improved and successful clinical outcomes of transplanted T cells and LT-HSCs expanded in serum free media for treating life threatening hematological and immunological diseases.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
PROJECT NARRATIVE For standardization of cells used in research and to improve safety, efficacy and minimize batch- batch variability in cell manufacturing of T cell and HSC therapies, we propose to use Trailhead Biosystems Quality by Design (QbD) platform to develop industrial grade, chemically defined, serum free optimized cell culture media T-SFMOPT and HSC-SFMOPT each specific to the expansion of T cells and LT-HSCs respectively. Optimized media will be validated for their activation, proliferation, phenotype and functionality with a licensing-for-manufacture endpoint. Expected clinical outcomes relate to significant superiority in all aspects of cell manufacturing compared to current SFM and serum alternative media. The T-SFMOPT impacts the current problems encountered in CAR-T cell area. HSC-SFMOPT product will positively impact bone marrow transplants clinically.

Project Terms:
Activities of Daily Living; Address; Algorithms; Animals; Antibodies; Area; base; Biological; Blood Platelets; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Transplantation; CD34 gene; Cell Culture System; Cell Culture Techniques; cell growth; Cell physiology; Cell Therapy; Cells; Chemicals; chimeric antigen receptor T cells; Clinical; clinical application; Clinical Trials; comparative; Complex; cost; Culture Media; Cyclic GMP; Data Analyses; design; Differentiation and Growth; Dimensions; exosome; experimental study; Formulation; Generations; Genes; Growth; Growth Factor; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hematological Disease; Hematopoiesis; Hematopoietic; Hematopoietic stem cells; high dimensionality; Human; Immune System Diseases; Immunologics; improved; In Vitro; Industrialization; insight; Institutes; interest; Investigation; Knowledge; Laboratories; Licensing; Life; Lymphocyte; Maintenance; Mammalian Cell; manufacturing process; Maps; Marrow; mathematical model; Measurement; Methods; MicroRNAs; microvesicles; novel; Outcome; Pathway interactions; Patients; Phenotype; Process; regenerative; Research; response; Rest; Safety; self-renewal; Serum; Serum-Free Culture Media; Signal Pathway; Signal Transduction; Standardization; Stem cell transplant; Stem cells; T-Cell Activation; T-Lymphocyte; Technology; technology development; Testing; Time; Transplantation; Up-Regulation; Vari

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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