New Collaboration Between CCRM and Nikon to Reap Benefits Outside the Lab

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 15, 2013) - The Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) has entered into an agreement with Nikon Corporation to place the Nikon BioStation CT Integrated Cell Culture Observation System, and related software, in CCRM's product development facility to perform high throughput studies of patient-derived stem cell responsiveness to test molecules in a controlled environment. Together, CCRM and Nikon will develop new algorithms necessary to capture cellular and molecular events as they unfold. The end result will be the generation of crucial data that should help advance personalized regenerative medicine.

"This collaboration is an exciting initiative that will have multiple benefits for CCRM and its industry consortium," says Dr. Peter Zandstra, CSO of CCRM and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. "The studies we will undertake are well aligned with our efforts to standardize metrics in stem cell responses. The equipment will enable us to image plated cells and perform analyses regularly over a 24-hour period, thereby allowing CCRM scientists to recognize when crucial changes are happening to the cells, in real time. This is particularly significant when testing how cells react to drugs or genes."

Continues Dr. Zandstra, "Of note, the open interaction with Nikon, including co-development efforts of next generation imaging algorithms, should have broad impact for the research community. CCRM is excited to lead this collaboration."

CCRM has a fully resourced, 6,000 square foot development facility focused on cell reprogramming and engineering; cell manufacturing; and, biomaterials and devices.

About the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

CCRM, a Canadian not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence program and six academic partners, supports the development of technologies that accelerate the commercialization of stem cell- and biomaterials-based technologies and therapies. A network of academics, industry and entrepreneurs, CCRM aims to translate scientific discoveries into marketable products for patients. CCRM launched in Toronto's Discovery District on June 14, 2011. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto.