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Transplantable, stem cell-derived, regenerative thymic tissues

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Reconstituting T cell immunity and T cell receptor repertoire diversity.

About the Technology

T-cell immunity and central tolerance depend on the health of an essential immune organ, the thymus. Thymic function is strong in the young and declines with age (immunosenescence), which the COVID-19 pandemic tragically exposed. In addition, thymic function can be severely compromised by medical conditions/treatments or gene defects. Currently, there are no known strategies that can regenerate the thymus, and its potential to strengthen or modulate immune function for therapeutic purposes has yet to be tapped into. 

Our team has developed a platform that derives functional thymic epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells, called iTECs as a cell therapy that can reconstitute T cell immunity and T cell receptor repertoire diversity in vulnerable patient populations. Transplantable, stem cell-derived, regenerative thymic tissues could be a cure for children born with thymic defects, help patients undergoing cancer treatment fight their disease, and strengthen the immune system of the elderly. 

Originating from a philanthropic gift to Stanford’s 22q11 Deletion Syndrome Program, the iTEC differentiation platform has garnered support from CIRM, Emerson Collective, Baxter, and various internal research grants. HIT Fund support from Stanford’s OTL will propel our technology to a pre-IND submission.

Team Members

Katja G. Weinacht

Katja G. Weinacht

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine)

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Wenqing Wang

Sr. Research Scientist Basic Life, Pediatrics - Ped Stem Cell Transplantation

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Jack Shumway

Jack Shumway

MBA Intern

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