Cell Therapy News/Articles, page-143

I posted the link to MSB's involvement in cancer research below a few days ago and the subsequent discussion on this forum made me think it could be more important than I initially realised:

https://www.business.gov.au/assista...projects-crc-ps/current-crc-p-selection-round

I asked my daughter about the research and have written a summery below. Any errors will be my misunderstanding as our discussion was brief,  so please feel free to correct:

Donor cells are chosen that are immunocompatible with ~50% of the Australian population; the product of these donor cells will not evoke an immune response in these individuals. Thus the product could be administered in up to ~50% of Australians should they require it.

The donor cells are treated with transcription factors to convert them into stem cells. These stem cells are then gene edited (CRISPR?) to become cytotoxic T cells that recognise receptors commonly over expressed on cancer cells. This allows the cytotoxic T cell to recognise and destroy cancer cells.  These cytotoxic T cells can be considered the final product.

If this works, then it could potentially be as big as a drug like Herceptin, which targets over expression of HER2.

One thing for sure is that CRISPR is making cellular medicine much easier and more viable. My daughter raves about CRISPR.  I think it's a big reason why interest in stem cells has exploded in recent years.

All IMO. Good luck to all holders