BioCanRx, and partners, announce funding to manufacture first made-in-Canada CAR-T cells

 

 


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  • Dr. John Bell, Scientific Director, BioCanRx; Sr. Scientist, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa
  • Dr. Robert Holt, distinguished scientist, BC Cancer Agency; Head of Sequencing and Head of Quality Systems, Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre; Professor, Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia and Professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University
  • Dr. Manoj Lalu, Associate Scientist, Assistant Professor, Clinical Epidemiology and Regenerative Medicine Programs, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital and Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ottawa
  • Dr. Natasha Kekre, Assistant Professor, Associate Scientist, Hematologist, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa.
  • Stéphanie Michaud, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer, BioCanRx
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Image used with permission from Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc. (http://www.rockland-inc.com/)

A typical CAR T cell therapy involves four basic steps. (1) A patient or donor is leukapheresed to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). (2) These cells are manipulated to express CAR by gene transfection. (3) CAR-expressing cells are differentiated into effector immune cells and expanded to sufficient number in vitro . (4) The CAR effector cells are then introduced into the patient. This is frequently done in conjunction with either chemo- or radio- therapy.
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