Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA)

IREM and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) of Kyoto University have had close ties for many years, ever since the official collaboration kick-off with CiRA in 2017 with IREM representatives Prof. Hoerstrup, Prof. Nitsch and Prof. Hock.

Later, an active scientific exchange was established with visiting scientists from IREM at CiRA. In 2019, we welcomed Prof. Hirohide Saito, Prof. Yoshinoro Yoshida and Dr. Peter Karagiannis at our 15th Winter Brain & Heart Symposium. Furthermore, researchers from IREM joined a course, organized by CiRA and FiT in December 2019 in Kyoto. The active exchange of visiting scientists of both institutions were planned but had to be postponed due to the Corona crisis.

Furthermore, Prof. Hotta confirmed his support in order to overcome immune rejection of iPS cells by genome editing. His group showed that biallelic disruption of HLA-A, -B and HLA class II genes successfully reduced killer and helper T cell reactivity, while suppressed NK cell activity, by leaving at least one allele of HLA-C. The overall goal is to produce a universal iPSC cell line.

IREM is looking forward to an even more intensive scientific exchange with CiRA in the coming years and welcomes the news that Kyoto University and the University of Zurich have officially established a strategic partnership.

Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) Home Page