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17AIST TODAY 2013-1life-liaison-ml@aist.go.jpFor inquiries about this article : Research Planning Office of Life Science and Blotechnology For inquiries about this article : Advanced Manufacturing Research Institutehttp://unit.aist.go.jp/amri/en/index.htmlhttp://unit.aist.go.jp/scrc/cie/index_en.htmlFor inquiries about this article : Research Center for Stem Cell EngineeringAutomatic culture evaluation system for customized treatment of diabetes using neural stem cells from olfactory bulb (schematic diagram)Highly individualized stem cell activation process also leads to drug development and discovery.Measuring instrumentDiabetic patientsMedical instituteMedical instituteNeural stem cells from olfactory bulbAutomatic culture + evaluation systemChemical compound screeningNeural stem cell with its insulin producing function activatedTransplantation to individual patient’s pancreasReagent manufacturers in JapanEffective medium developmentSynergetic effect for treatmentFeedback to drug therapyRoad to realization: Establishment of a customized treatment system using patient's own stem cellsThere are a few problems to be solved before the diabetes treatment described above can be realized. It is important to use large animals closer to humans, such as monkeys or pigs, for evaluation. We are promoting the development of a neural stem cell culture system using monkeys, in collaboration with another research institute. It is also necessary to improve the technology for activating neural stem cells taken from the olfactory bulb into high-quality stem cells with good insulin-producing capabilities before they are transplanted to the pancreas. At present we are trying to establish a screening system, with drug discovery as one of the objectives, together with a pharmaceutical company that has a chemical compound library. If we can improve the deteriorated function of stem cells by medication, we will be able to achieve a synergistic effect on diabetes treatment along with transplant therapy.The important points, however, are a more individualized activation process and the implementation of quick evaluation. The cellular functions of the cerebral nervous system vary significantly from person to person. Even in the case of identical twins who share the same genes, recent research has clarified that considerable differences appear in their nerve functions depending on how they live. In other words, it is necessary to realize a system of customized chemical compound screening that induces insulin activity quickly and efficiently using the neural stem cells of individual patients. Press release[1] Development of Regenerative Medicine Technology Using Adult Neural Stem Cells, October 7, 2011. It should be a regenerative therapeutic process that prepares neural stem cells with highly activated insulin-producing capability that undergo chemical compound screening within a few weeks after their removal from a diabetic patient, and transplants those cells into the pancreas of the patient (figure).It seems that an automatic culture system that incorporates measuring and evaluation equipment will be necessary to realize this process. Needless to say, further progress of basic research on, for example, genes that serve as a key factor in the creation of individual differences is important. We believe that what we need now is to establish a joint research system that rapidly incorporates candidate factors obtained from our basic research into system development. We intend to closely work with various industries (such as the measuring instruments industry) and reagent and pharmaceutical companies in Japan and conduct R&D useful in the medical institutions to establish a new stem cell therapeutic system.Stem Cell Differentiation Research TeamResearch Center for Stem Cell EngineeringTomoko KUWABARA

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