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The Midwest Institute for Comparative Stem Cell Biology
Integrating education and commercialization with
research on umbilical cord and related stem cells in humans and with
research on umbilical cord stem cell and other stem cell sources in
agricultural, companion, and competitive animals.
Thus the Institute, is well positioned to contribute to the development
of important stem cell technologies and to participate in the economic
benefits that will be associated with stem cell research and
applications in animal agriculture and in human and animal medicine.
These research goals are complemented by:
Organization
The primary focus of the Institute’s research program
is stem cell biology and related technology. Major progress has already
been made in discovery, characterization and application of remarkably
adaptive and plentiful cord matrix cells not heretofore realized. The
collaboration among scientists addressing both human and animal research
goals contributes to a strong comparative medical environment. Efforts
include both basic and applied research supported by federal and state
funding and through collaboration with other public and private
entities. Projects funded by or through the institute are
interdisciplinary and collaborative in nature. A strong assembly of
affiliated research scientists contributes to this effort.
The institute envisions development of educational
programs to provide training for the diverse careers afforded by the
growing biotechnology industry including stem cell technologies.
Graduate degree and graduate certificate programs in stem cell research
and related biotechnology are planned. These will be accompanied by
post-doctoral fellowships and technician training programs. Customized
courses in intellectual property commercialization will be offered in
conjunction with the College of Business. At the masters level, the
College of Business already has an intern program in conjunction with
the Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) and the National
Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization (NISTAC).
The Institute is associated with, and plans to build upon, this
collaborative program. Undergraduate programs in biotechnology are being
developed in the College of Agriculture to train students for direct
entry into the relevant industries, or for further education in
professional or graduate programs. The institute plans to develop an
internship or similar co-operative opportunity program with regional
biotechnology and bio-pharmaceutical companies.
A founding premise of the Institute is that research
findings contribute to societal benefit and economic development only
when they are made available to the public. This happens through private
commercial and governmental sources. Thus development of intellectual
property through commercial relationships is a prominent complementary
feature of the institute. This is accomplished through affiliation with
an existing intellectual property development structure comprised of
Kansas State University, KSURF and NISTAC, NISTAC serves as the
commercialization arm of KSURF. This is one of the top
university-affiliated development and commercialization organizations in
the United States with a solid track record based on eleven years of
experience, originally as the Mid-American Commercialization
Corporation, now reconfigured into NISTAC. Established three years ago,
NISTAC is a cooperative state, community and university entity and holds
corporate patents valued at more than $400M.
The Midwest Institute for Comparative Stem Cell Biology is founded on
the initial research of Professors Duane
Davis ( KSU College of Agriculture),
Deryl Troyer and
Mark Weiss (KSU College
of Veterinary Medicine) and Dr. Kathy
Mitchell of the University of Kansas. These
four individuals are designated Founding Fellows. In addition to these
four scientists, the following Fellows contribute to the critical mass
of high quality science that characterizes the institute: (partial list) Dr. Stefan Bossmann, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Terrry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University. Related expertise: mycobacterial porins and their targeted delivery to tumors via stem cells. Dr. Viktor Chikan, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University. Reltated expertise: synthesis of magnetic core/shell nanoparticles suitable for loading into stem cells and delivery to tumors for generation of magnetic hyperthermia. Dr. Michael Detamore, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Kansas University. Relevant expertise: tissue engineering of bone and cartilage. Dr. David Grieger, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science and Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University. Related expertise: bovine reproductive physiology reproductive technology and molecular endocrinology. Dr. Duy Hua, KSU Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University. Related expertise: selective delivery of anticancer drugs utilizing nanogel or nanoparticles with stem cells; development of novel small-molecule anti-cancer drugs.
Dr. Bradley Johnson,
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College
of Agriculture, Kansas State University. Related expertise: Muscle cell
culture in food animals, RNA Quantification, flow cytometry,
immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Interests include elucidating
factors important in food animal muscle growth and development. Dr. J.P. Perchellet, Professor, Division of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University. Relative expertise: Development and testing of novel small molecule anti-cancer drugs; investigation of mechanisms involved in anti-cancer effect.
Dr. David Poole,
Professor, Departments of Kinesiology, College of Arts and Sciences and
Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State
University. Relevant expertise: Muscle physiology spanning both cardiac
and skeletal muscle, with emphasis on effects of exercise. Dr. Walter Renberg, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. Related expertise: Orthopedic surgery with a specific interest in using canine cord matrix cells in enhancement of fracture and tendon repair. Interests include blood vessel synthesis and transplantation.
Dr. Thomas Schermerhorn,
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. Related expertise: Beta
cell insulin secretion and clinical companion animal diabetes, using
stem cells to study development of beta cell exocytotic pathways and as
a potential treatment of naturally-occurring diabetes mellitus in dogs
and cats.
Dr. Masaaki Tamura,
Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. Relevant expertise:
Protein chemist working in the area of angiotensin and its signaling in
lung and colon cancer.
As an on-going principle, scientists who are principle investigators in
externally funded grants coming to the institute will be designated as
fellows. Other collaborators with related research interests will be
designated associate fellows.
Administrative executive committee
members serve by virtue of their office. Fellows serve three year terms,
that may be repeated one time consecutively.
Other deans or representatives of other organizations and institutions may be added as indicated by degree of participation.
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