Catholic Medical Center Researching Innovative Medical Technology in Space...Promoting the development of artificial blood, etc
Dec 16, 2024
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Professor Joo Ji-hyun (Research Director, Rheumatology Department at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital), Professor Cho Byung-sik of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and Professor Lim Ye-ri of the Judo Universal Stem Cell Research Center at Catholic University School of Medicine were selected for the National Project organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This is evaluated as a meaningful achievement that opens a new chapter in next-generation medical technology.
The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative technology to manufacture hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and artificial blood (i-RBC) based on human-derived pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) using the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites (Rumir's own satellite 2). To overcome the limited cell differentiation and proliferation efficiency in the global gravity environment, a cell culture process using a microgravity environment is introduced for the first time.
In particular, it will establish a mass production process of hematopoietic stem cells and artificial blood through bioreaction research in space, and lay the foundation technology for developing treatments for rare blood diseases and immune diseases.
The 'Innovative Medical Technology Development Project in Space Medicine Overcoming Medical Problems' is organized by Catholic University's Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and Lumir Co., Ltd. and Epsel Co., Ltd. participate as joint research institutes, and the second Korean ARPA-H project is a national R&D project that solves national challenges through bold challenges and brings innovative changes in medical and health services. It will run for a total of 54 months from this year to 2028, with a total research fund of 9 billion won.
Biological reactions within the space environment provide very different conditions from conventional Earth gravity environments, which can dramatically increase the efficiency of cell differentiation and proliferation.
Professor Joo Ji-hyun "This study will contribute to presenting a new paradigm of convergence of space medicine and regenerative medicine as well as innovation in the medical field."
The study is divided into five stages, and in the first year, the hematopoietic stem cell differentiation process is established in the Earth's gravitational environment, followed by empirical research in the microgravity simulation environment and the actual space environment. In the fourth quarter of 2027, the company plans to launch satellites in cooperation with Lumir and collect experimental data from space bio cabinets.
Seoul St. Mary's Hospital conducts iPSC-based cell differentiation research in a microgravity environment and empirical research in a space environment as a host organization, applying it to the medical field and connecting it to clinical research.
Co-research institute Ipsell Co., Ltd. will lead the development of the iPSC-based regenerative medical treatment manufacturing process using the space environment and focus on analyzing space empirical data and improving the manufacturing process to increase the possibility of commercialization of products.
Lumir Co., Ltd. plans to develop an automatic satellite-based cell culture system and contribute to the establishment of Korea's first space medicine demonstration platform through space demonstration research using it. In particular, it is of great significance in that the medical technology of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, which is the most concentrated in Korea, and Lumir's advanced space technology are fused to explore new possibilities for advanced renewable medical care.
In addition, the findings will lead to practical clinical studies to maximize applicability in the medical field. Through this, it is expected to be able to provide treatments for intractable diseases such as blood cancer, anemia, and immunodeficiency.
Since 2016, NASA has conducted iPSC research in the space environment several times through the 'Stem Cell Differentiation in Microgravity' project. On the other hand, domestic space medicine research is still in its infancy. This project will lead to significant progress in the domestic space medicine field and is expected to be an important opportunity to secure international competitiveness.
This project was supported by the Catholic Central Medical Center's Advanced Cell Therapy Project and is expected to be an important turning point in solidifying the Catholic Central Medical Center's global leadership.
Professor Joo Ji-hyun emphasized that "it is an important opportunity to greatly contribute to the development of national health care technology and space medicine through innovation in the process of manufacturing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-based differentiated cells using the space environment.".
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bellho@sportschosun.com
