Identification and Re-consent of Existing Cord Blood Donors for Creation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines for Potential Clinical Applications

Abstract

We aim to create a bank of clinical grade cord blood-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines in order to facilitate clinical research leading to the development of new cellular therapies. Here we present a clear pathway toward the creation of such a resource, within a strong quality framework, and with the appropriate regulatory, government and ethics approvals, along with a dynamic follow-up and re-consent process of cord blood donors from the public BMDI Cord Blood Bank. Interrogation of the cord blood bank inventory and next generation sequencing was used to identify and confirm 18 donors with suitable HLA homozygous haplotypes. Regulatory challenges that may affect global acceptance of the cell lines, along with the quality standards required to operate as part of a global network, are being met by working in collaboration with bodies such as the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI) and the Global Alliance for iPSC Therapies (GAiT). Ethics approval was granted by an Institutional Human Research Ethics Committee, and government approval has been obtained to use banked cord blood for this purpose. New issues of whole-genome sequencing and the relevant donor safeguards and protections were considered with input from clinical genetics services, including the rights and information flow to donors, and commercialization aspects. The success of these processes has confirmed feasibility and utility of using banked cord blood to produce clinical-grade iPSC lines for potential cellular therapies.

Keywords: HLA haplotype; cord blood and cord tissue banking; donor re-consent; ethics; induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC).

Graphical abstract

Figure 1.

Cumulative coverage of the local population by the homozygous haplotypes identified in the BMDI Cord Blood Bank. Each color represents a unique haplotype. There is a minimal increase in coverage after the first 23 haplotypes identified.