Technology Innovator Awards 2017

60 Corporate Vision / Technology Innovator Awards 2017 , Spun out of the Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences and with strong links to Chemistry, ReInnervate is a biotechnology company specialising in the development of enabling technologies for use in research into cell growth and function. We profiled them to find out more. Best for Cell & Tissue Biology Research - UK ReInnervate was founded in 2002 by Professor Stefan Przyborski as a spinout biotechnology company from Durham University, UK. Reinnervate was acquired by ReproCELL in 2014 and was merged with Biopta to form ReproCELL Europe Ltd in July 2016. They are developing novel approaches to monitor and control cell differentiation with distinct applications in stem cell biology. Reinnervate’s core strength was in its Alvetex® family of 3D cell culture products, providing a flexible platform that allows scientists in any life science laboratory to easily establish improved in vitro assays and tissue models that better mimic the in vivo growth of cells. Alvetex continues to be developed, produced and distributed by ReproCELL Europe. Professor Stefan Przyborski was the scientific founder of Reinnervate Ltd has been part of the ReproCELL group since its acquisition in 2014. He also holds an academic position in the School of Biological and Biomedical Science at Durham University as Professor of Cell Technology. He has over 25 years of research experience within the fields of cell and tissue biology with specialization in stem cell science, cell differentiation and the development of advanced technologies that enable the construction of human tissues in vitro. Professor Przyborski runs an active research laboratory consisting of postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers. His group is well funded and regularly publishes their work in peer reviewed journals. Stefan department explores stem cells and the use of these in medicine. Much attention is being devoted to the potential uses of stem cells in human biology and medicine. Many of these wide- ranging applications for stem cell technology are based on the assumption that it will be possible to direct the differentiation of cultured stem cells and produce specific cell and tissue types on demand. However, people’s understanding of being able to control and exploit the full developmental potential of stem cells is currently limited. For example, it is proving difficult to duplicate the extent of cell differentiation demonstrated by human embryonic stem cells following transplantation. The ability to achieve this level of cellular development and engineer tissues of specific types is partly due to our limited capability to control the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell development and provide the appropriate environment cues that support such differentiation and function. For example, the environment in which cells grow and differentiate in the culture dish is far removed from the complex three dimensional surroundings and interactions with adjacent tissues, which cells experience during growth in the body. As such, Stefan’s research programme is focused on the investigation of cell differentiation and the development of innovative ways to control the development of tissues from stem cells. With regards to ReInnervate and ReproCELL, these two firms will be seeking to work together to create competitive products and services to accelerate research in stem cells, human tissues and 3D cell culture. Company: ReInnervate Ltd/ ReproCELL Contact: Stefan Przyborski Contact Address: [email protected] Address: South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK, Phone: 01913 343988/ 07540 706321 Website: reinnervate.com