New partnership looks to improve cell reprogramming methods for healthcare benefits

Key points:

• A new research collaboration is applying fundamental expertise in cellular biology with commercial technology to explore how the process of cellular reprogramming can be enhanced to better fulfil the technology’s potential in regenerative medicine, drug discovery and personalised medicine.
• The collaboration will combine new knowledge and tools developed in the Christophorou lab in collaboration with Dr Louise Walport at the Francis Crick Institute with the expertise and state-of-the-art cell reprogramming platform established by Axol Bioscience.
• Working on patient samples, the project will explore new factors and stimulations that may be used to create a more robust and efficient reprogramming method, potentially with reduced reliance on Yamanaka factors.

A new academic-commercial collaboration between the Christophorou lab and Babraham Research Campus-based company Axol Bioscience is aiming to improve the efficiency and speed of cellular reprogramming. By uniting expertise in fundamental biology and patented technology from the Christophorou lab at the Babraham Institute and the Walport lab at the Francis Crick Institute with Axol Bioscience’s state-of-the-art-cell reprogramming platform this project has the potential to improve and scale up the production of cells and tissues in drug discovery and healthcare medicine.

Cellular reprogramming, where cells are returned to an undifferentiated stem cell state before being directed to become desired cell types, offers huge potential in regenerative medicine where diseased or damaged tissues are repaired or replaced. However, the cell reprogramming process is slow and expensive, and can raise concerns about genetic stability and safety.

Supported by a UKRI-BBSRC Campus Innovation Award (CIA) via the Babraham Research Campus Collaboration Fund to Maria Christophorou, a group leader at the Babraham Institute, and Ashley Barnes, Chief Scientific Officer at Axol Bioscience, the project will test the effectiveness of novel protein modulators to drive cell fate decisions and explore whether reprogramming can be achieved with reduced reliance on the Yamanaka transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc), some of which are oncogenic.

Dr Maria Christophorou, Group Leader in the Institute’s Epigenetics research programme, said: “Through this research partnership we hope to utilise our new understanding of epigenetic and signalling factors that influence cell fate to alleviate some of the current constraints which limit the translational potential of induced pluripotent stem cells. Our discovery research points to the potential of achieving better cell reprogramming and we’re delighted to work with the team at Axol Bioscience to explore this further. It is also our aim to gain new mechanistic insights into the reprogramming process and the factors that influence cell fate transitions more broadly.”

The project provides the opportunity to look beyond reprogramming cells themselves to see what other factors and stimulations may be used to create a more robust and efficient reprogramming method. We currently don’t have a complete understanding of why some cells reprogramme while others exposed to the same treatments do not. By advancing our knowledge of the factors that influence reprogramming and using this to increase the efficiency of the process, this work will deliver patient benefit through the efficient generation of safer material for regenerative medicine application and drug discovery.

Ashley Barnes, CSO, Axol Bioscience, said: “This project will work at the forefront of iPSC technology and advances our strategic goal of developing human models for drug discovery, allowing us to move more quickly towards treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

By applying discoveries from the Babraham Institute to the commercial life science environment, this collaboration increases the likelihood of successful translation, benefitting both academic and commercial research. This aligns with the Institute’s mission to conduct world-leading research with real-world impact for health. Two patents have been filed on this work: Patent application No. WO2024084243A1 (and related patents/patent applications) entitled ‘Novel reprogramming method’ and Patent application No. WO2025003712A1 (and related patents/patent applications) entitled ‘Novel reprogramming activators and methods’. This collaboration is another example of Campus-based teams leveraging each other's expertise and resources to maximise the impact of their research endeavours.

Notes to Editors

Press contact

Dr Louisa Wood, Head of Communications, louisa.wood@babraham.ac.uk

Dr Duncan Borthwick, Head of Sales and Marketing, duncan.borthwick@axolbio.com

Image description

Induced pluripotent cells (iPS) in culture.

About the Babraham Institute

The Babraham Institute undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The Institute is strategically funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), through Institute Strategic Programme Grants and an Institute Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities.

About Axol Bioscience

Axol Bioscience is the leading manufacturer of functional iPSC-derived cells and provider of outsourced services to support drug discovery programs.

With over a decade of hard-earned stem cell experience, Axol has become a valued partner to the research community who look to employ more human-relevant iPSC-powered in vitro models for their research. We deliver a complete end-to-end offering from iPSC generation, cell manufacturing, technical services including complex gene-editing, banking, reprogramming and differentiation through to outsourced model building, assay development and compound testing. Axol operates in five key market areas – Neuroscience (including ALS, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, Neuroinflammation), Pain & Sensation, Ophthalmology (Dry-AMD), Dermatology and Cardiovascular.

About Babraham Research Campus Ltd.

Babraham Research Campus is distinct in its co-location of 60 bioscience companies with the Babraham Institute, a world-renowned research organisation which receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The aim of the Campus is to support UK bioscience through academic research, but also with facilities and capabilities for early-stage and growing commercial organisations. The Campus provides companies laboratory and office space, networking and collaboration opportunities, together with access to outstanding scientific facilities in an ideal geographical location at the core of the Cambridge cluster.

About BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.

BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.