"SCAD and Kyoto University have started a joint research project to realize cell therapy and regenerative medicine using Schwann cells."
SCAD and Kyoto University have entered into a joint research agreement as of August 1, 2023 with Associate Professor Ryosuke Ikeguchi of Kyoto University Hospital and Professor Tomoki Aoyama of Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine for the development of a new cellular medicine using Schwann cells produced by SCAD. We are aiming at new cell therapy and regenerative medicine for nerve damage such as peripheral nerve injury, by using the Schwann cells which have been used for drug discovery assays in SCAD.
Schwann cells, the major glial cells of the nervous system, are considered to be deeply involved in the regeneration and repair of neurons and axons. However, to date, it has been difficult to produce them stably from human pluripotent stem cells or other sources, and so far, little progress has been realized in their practical application as cellular medicines. We have improved and optimized the differentiation induction method for Schwann cells and have succeeded in efficient and stable production of Schwann cells from human pluripotent stem cell lines.
In the joint research with Kyoto University, we will start pre-clinical experiments using animal disease models to examine the possibility of clinical application of Schwann cells produced by SCAD by testing their effectiveness in neural repair and other aspects. When promising results are obtained in the animal experiments, we will plan to start clinical research for the world's first cell therapy and regenerative medicine by using Schwann cells.

SCAD has succeeded in efficiently generating Schwann cells from iPS cells, which are deeply related to the regeneration and repair of the peripheral nervous system. Information on this Schwann cell service has been updated.

An interview with our CEO was published in "Philo-", an industry-university collaboration information platform of Kyoto University.
"iPS Cell Based Drug Discovery" to search for effective drugs for intractable diseases for which there is no cure.

An interview with our CEO was published on the website of Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co. Ltd.
Series EMBARK "Embarkation "Story #13 "iPS Cell Based Drug Discovery" to search for effective drugs for intractable diseases for which there is no cure.

RIKEN BDR (Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research) has signed a joint research agreement with SCAD.

The Masumoto Laboratory ( Research Leader: Hidetoshi Masumoto, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Researcher) at the RIKEN BDR ( Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) is developing technology to evaluate cardiac function by applying cardiomyocyte tissue generated from iPS cells and microdevice technology. SCAD has provided some of the evaluation devices to Masumoto Laboratory. SCAD will collaborate with them to commercialize technology to evaluate the toxicity/safety and responses of the myocardial function to drugs. In addition, by using patient-derived disease-specific iPS cells, we will develop rare disease models, and as a next step, we will also study the discovery of therapeutic drugs that can improve the conditions recapitulated in these models.

Mr. Tetsuya Matsuura, Executive Vice President and other executives of SME SUPPORT JAPAN (the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan) visited SCAD to inspect our activities to support drug discovery research based on iPS cells related technologies.
In addition to Mr. Matsuura, Mr. Yasuaki Nakajima, Director General of Kansai Head Office, and Mr. Kazuhisa Matsuo, Director General of Startup and Venture Business Support Division, visited SCAD and inspected the status of our development of disease model cells based on iPS cells derived from patient blood and the discovery of therapeutic drugs by using these cells.
SCAD has been developing these technologies with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and a grant from KYOTO Industrial Support Organization 21 (Kyoto Prefecture). Although it is still under development, they understood that SCAD is proceeding to recapitulate disease conditions at the cellular level and to evaluate its drug response.

We will exhibit at "BioJapan 2021" held at Pacifico Yokohama from October 13th to 15th. The latest information of our technology is exhibited, including neurological disorder models with patient-derived iPS cell lines, evaluation systems for muscle contractile force, and live-cell imaging chamber for microscopic observation.

Our project was adopted as a "2021 Kyoto Economic Gardening Support Enhancement Project" of KYOTO Industrial Support Organization 21.

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has released a video interview with our CEO.
JETRO has released a promotional video to introduce the innovation ecosystem in the life science field at the center of western Japan, Kansai region to the world. Together with Bayer in Kobe and AstraZeneca in Osaka, SCAD (Stem Cell & Device Laboratory, Inc.) in Kyoto was introduced in the promotional video.
Kensuke Kato, PhD, CEO of SCAD, is interviewed and explains an overview of the company's activities, development of iPS cell-based disease model cells for rare diseases, and drug discovery using these cells.

JETRO Global Channel, “Life Science at KYOTO, OSAKA, KOBE”