• PhD Student
• Loughborough University
• T:
• E: 

 

PhD title:

Using clinical demand and technological solutions to accelerate the adoption of mesenchymal stem cell based therapies for simultaneous indications

 

PhD supervisor:

Prof David Williams

 

PhD summary:

My project aims to:

• Examine the mechanisms behind human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) paracrine mode of action and its potential in the targeting of multiple simultaneous indications
  • Examine the effect of alternative process steps upon this mode of action
• Comparison of automated and manual cell culture methods- Examine the effects of alternative process steps upon properties and characteristics of multiple cell types, including hMSCs, human embryonic stem cells and a reference cell line
• Adapt current healthcare product appraisal methods to account for the treatment of multiple indications
• Examine the opportunity for reimbursement of regenerative  medicine products in the new value-based pricing scheme
• Skills/techniques:
  • Laboratory programme
    • Automated cell culture (CompacT SelecT)
    • Manual cell culture process step (centrifugation)
    • Measurements of cell quality for each cell line (viability, cell number, cell number over time)
    • Characterisation of each cell line (markers, morphology)
    • Examining biomarkers of hMSC mode of action

Presentations, publications, awards:

Loughborough University Health and Life Sciences Research School Conference – Delegate Choice Poster Award