The Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), is a state-of-the-art research institute in Bangalore, India, dedicated to the study of stem cells and regenerative biology with an emphasis on clinical translation. iBRIC-inStem’s mandate is to solve complex problems in areas of stem cell science and tissue regeneration, with disease relevance. Our laboratories offer advanced training and function through collaborative interdisciplinary research programs involving academia and industry.
Key research areas at inStem include developing organoid systems to study cardiovascular development and disease, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, barrier tissue dysfunction, and metabolic control. Additionally, chemical biology approaches provide tools for research and to generate therapeutic solutions. inStem is at the forefront of discoveries, and inventions and progressing very rapidly to translation and the clinic. iBRIC-inStem’s Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), a collaboration with and at CMC, Vellore, is the clinical translation arm focused on Cell and Gene Therapy. CSCR recently completed the first phase of a gene therapy clinical trial for haemophilia, which was published in The New England of Journal of Medicine. CSCR is also pioneering gene editing techniques in hematopoietic cells to treat sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
Capitalizing on the diverse and cross-disciplinary expertise we have and our interactions with the BLiSC campus, new approaches to regenerative biology have been initiated. We emphasize training through hands-on programs in gene editing, animal handling, genome engineering, and microscopy. iBRIC-inStem bridges basic research with real-world applications, fosters scientific workforce development, and engages the public at multiple levels. iBRIC-inStem also hosts national facilities like the National Cryo-EM and Mouse Research Facilities (MGEF), organizing workshops on advanced techniques, including CRISPR/Cas, OMICS, and cryobiology.
An important emphasis is also to “be local, go global”. InStem has embarked on an ambitious plan to be a resource for quality Indian stem cell lines (BioBank), research and training. Our unique ESCORT program: A Platform Enabling Stem Cell and Organoid Research and Training, is India’s first state-of-the-art stem cell and organoid facility, funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, under the aegis of SAHAJ. We are pleased to partner with the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI) for training in stem cells, ethics, regulation, and policy. inStem is also part of the prestigious “Circle of Stem Cell Institutes and Centres” of the ISSCR.
iBRIC-inStem is advancing women’s health through its ground breaking “WoRtH” program, which aims to leverage indigenously developed stem cell lines and organoid-based tools to de-risk drug discovery, by developing teratogenicity assays to test new products at early phases of discovery. Congenital anomalies are a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity. Many cases of infertility and early pregnancy loss are linked to issues occurring during the earliest stages of development, which are inaccessible for study. inStem’s vision is to establish a national Centre for Research, Application and Training in human Embryology (CReATE) to study early development for human health. CReATE will collaborate nationally to position India as a leader in developmental biology and regenerative medicine. The research conducted will have far-reaching implications for understanding human biology, improving healthcare, and developing innovative therapies for various diseases and conditions.
