The Stem Cell Laboratory conducts basic research, translational research and technology transfer and development in cell engineering. The goal is to develop clinical trials in cellular immunotherapy of cancer and advanced hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. As a consequence of this focus, we collaborate with numerous basic scientists and clinicians at Mayo, particularly with Human Cell Therapy Laboratory where our techniques are used in cGMP-grade graft manufacturing. In development of technology for clinical trials, we are collaborating with industrial partners and academic centers in the United States, Europe and Israel.

Our current basic science interests include:

• Mechanisms of pharmacological inhibition of dendritic cell maturation studied by transcript analysis
• Biology of angiogenic factors, growth factors and modifiers expressed by dendritic cells
• Dendritic cell?mediated membrane transfer
• Role of dendritic cells in lymphocyte recovery after stem cell transplantation
• Relationship between effectiveness of antigen presentation and graft-v-host disease
• Hematopoietic cell transdifferentation

The foci of our current translational research and technology transfer are:

• Development of cGMP-grade human cancer cell lines as sources of antigens for dendritic cell based immunotherapy
• Development of cGMP-grade dendritic cell manufacturing systems
• Graft engineering for haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• T cell grafts for post-transplant immune support

We develop and support clinical trials. We partook in technology transfer and design for several manufacturing techniques, in one case leading up to a pivotal trial. We developed scientific and/or technology and regulatory support for dendritic cell?mediated immunotherapy and haploidentical stem cell transplantation. Current projects include phase I trials in dendritic cell based immunotherapy in:

• Chronic myeloid leukemia
• Malignant melanoma
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Pancreatic carcinoma

Stem Cell Laboratory contributes to education in the science and technology of graft engineering by organizing annual Mayo-Luther Forums in Hematopoietic and Stem Cells and sporadic meeting of Stem Cell Laboratory collaborators.