Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) production

Reprogramming fully differentiated somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is used to model human disease in vitro and holds great promise in regenerative medicine. The hESC/iPSC Core uses two non-integration techniques in defined media for somatic cells reprogramming. The technique can be either Sendai virus or episomal vectors. Source cells can be fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). 

Although we do accept live cells, we prefer frozen vials with the fibroblasts at a low passage number (approximately 3 passages). Total cell numbers needed are about 1 million cells per frozen vial.

For PBMCs, principal investigators must provide documentation from a certified laboratory that the cells have been tested and found to be negative for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

The service takes from 3 to 5 months to complete and the cost is $4,200 per iPSC line for Yale University investigators. This includes delivery of at least 3-5 clones, each with 3 cryopreserved vials. SSEA4 staining will be included in the delivery package. 

Further characterizations such as gene expression profile, karyotyping and/or teratoma formation, often used to characterize the pluripotency of iPSC cell lines, can be added at additional cost. 

We also offer PBMC isolation.

If you are interested in this service, please feel free to contact us.

Caihong Qiu, Technical Director; 203-737-7925

Jason Thomson, Research Associate; 203-785-6673

Yinghong Ma, Research Associate; 203-785-6673