TAP and EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine continue collaboration

The Automation Partnership (TAP), a world leader in the design and development of innovative automation for life science applications is pleased to announce that its collaboration with leading translational research group, the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine at Loughborough University is to continue into a second five year phase. This follows the recent announcement by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson, UK Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of a £5.33 million grant to the centre.

TAP’s new five year partnership with EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine will mean the further development and testing of its CompacT CellBase™ system for culturing clinically applicable stem cells in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. Additionally, the funding will allow TAP to begin new research with the centre to develop ambr™, TAP’s advanced microscale bioreactor that mimics the characteristics of classical bioreactors. This project will enable the centre to explore the use of alternative technology platforms to ensure high quality stem cell therapies are manufactured both rapidly and cost-effectively.

This new collaboration is a continuation of the work TAP began as part of the remedi (regenerative medicine – a new industry) EPSRC Grand Challenge consortium in 2005 and has contributed to remedi achieving three world firsts in automated cell culture, including production in a CompacT CellBase of a clinical grade neuronal stem cell line.

David Newble, TAP’s CEO stated: "We are delighted our collaboration with the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine will continue to be funded and is a great endorsement of the success we have all achieved with the remedi consortium. Utilising and developing TAP’s innovative technology is firmly at the heart of this partnership and sends a clear signal that TAP is leading the way in regenerative medicine and playing a vital role in making affordable new stem cell therapies a reality.”