Custom cells commissioned via bit.bio’s new ioDisease platform
bit.bio has launched a custom disease model cell offering which allows researchers to commission human cells with disease-specific genetic mutations.
The new custom ioDisease model cells offering allows scientists to commission their disease-relevant mutation of interest in bit.bio’s human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells powered by opti-ox technology.
The disease-relevant mutation is engineered into bit.bio’s human ioWild Type cells using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Opti-ox then causes the reprogramming of the iPSCs into specific human cell types, which then have the disease-relevant mutation. bit.bio’s cells, precision-reprogrammed by opti-ox, enable the manufacturing of any human cell type at scale with precision and consistency. Scientists receive defined, consistent, ready-to-use cells, empowering them to investigate the impact of their mutation in a human context.
Until the ioDisease model, there was a lack of standardised, easy-to-use and readily accessible human cell models, leaving scientists reliant on animal models and cell lines that differ considerably from human biology.
iPSC-derived cells from patients offer a human model for disease research, but sourcing them with the disease-specific mutation of interest is often a complex and time-consuming process. These cells also often lack standardisation and optimised, fast protocols, making it difficult to generate consistent data and scalable disease models.
The bit.bio offering provides scientists with a powerful tool to overcome such limitations.
Dr Paul Morrill, chief business officer at bit.bio – the Cambridge IndependentScience & Technology Employer of the Year winner – said: “Human cells are key to disease research, drug discovery, and clinical translation. However, traditional methods of producing human cells have long, laborious protocols that often result in heterogenous cell populations that can lead to significant data variability.
“With this customised offering, we can provide robust, standardised tools for research and drug discovery. This gives researchers a unique method to gain valuable insights into disease mechanisms and assess the efficacy of potential drugs for treatment.
“We are already seeing demand for our custom ioDisease model cells from industry and it will be particularly exciting to understand how they will use their models to gain new insights and treatments for conditions where patients are waiting for life-changing breakthroughs.”
bit.bio has partnered with leading contract research organisation Charles River Laboratories to provide disease models in their early drug discovery programmes. Models were developed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, which have now been successfully integrated into their phenotypic screening workflows. The cells are now available off the shelf as part of bit.bio’s ioDisease model cells portfolio.
Dr Mark Kotter, CEO and founder of bit.bio, said: “With this new offering, we can cater to the vast diversity of scientific research into human diseases, providing scientists with the models they need to study their specific interests.
“Our custom disease cell model offering aligns with bit.bio’s mission to democratise access to human cells for research and drug discovery.”
Scientists can now request their mutations in bit.bio’s ioGlutamatergic Neurons, ioGABAergic Neurons, ioMicroglia and ioSkeletal Myocytes by contacting info@bit.bio.
