#United States #Los Angeles #USC #CHLA #G-Rex Grants

ScaleReady's G-Rex Grants: Fueling Innovation in Cell Therapy

In an exciting development for the medical community, ScaleReady has announced the awarding of G-Rex Grants to prominent researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). If you're unfamiliar with the G-Rex platform, it is a groundbreaking manufacturing technology that supports the advancement of cell and gene therapy (CGT) initiatives, and the recent funding will bolster several key projects aimed at translating these therapies into clinical practice.

The G-Rex Grant program, which has handed out nearly 200 grants totaling millions, recently distributed $1,025,000 in funding to four distinguished faculty members. Leading the charge is Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein, who serves as the Executive Director of the USC/CHLA Cell Therapy Program. He received a grant of $300,000 intended to enhance the development of a novel non-viral manufacturing platform for CAR-T cell therapies. This additional support is likely to accelerate an initiative that was initially funded by the INFR5 Grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

Dr. Abou-el-Enein emphasized the functionality of the G-Rex system, noting its potential to establish an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective CAR-T manufacturing process. “This system enables high-yield cell expansion, robust scale-up, and impressive consistency within a compact footprint,” he said. He believes the integration of this platform will advance their mission as a center of excellence in CAR-T manufacturing and provide practical solutions to teams working tirelessly to bring cell therapies to patients.

Another grantee, Dr. Saul Priceman, Founding Director at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded $275,000 to develop a G-Rex-based CAR-T cell process. This aims to push forward a novel CAR-T cell therapy into a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for treating metastatic solid cancers. His research team is also exploring innovative viral and non-viral engineering strategies, which could help to address existing bottlenecks in cell manufacturing.

Dr. Priceman expressed his excitement about transitioning from conventional cell manufacturing platforms to the G-Rex production system, noting that this shift could enhance the laboratory's capabilities across the USC and CHLA campuses.

Furthermore, Dr. Shahab Asgharzadeh from CHLA is focused on pediatric patients, receiving a grant of $250,000. His work involves the late-stage preclinical development of a CAR-T cell therapy aimed at children and young adults with recurrent solid tumors. The program is supported by an existing CIRM CLIN1 Grant.

Lastly, Dr. Preet Chaudhary, heading the Nohl Division of Hematology at the Department of Medicine, has obtained a $200,000 grant. This funding will support the process development and IND submission of a novel Synthetic Immune Receptor (SIR) engineered T-cell therapy targeting solid tumors, backed by a CIRM TRAN1 Grant.

ScaleReady’s G-Rex Grant program is designing a future where cell and gene-modified cell therapy can thrive. Not only are individual Grant Awards worth up to $300,000 crucial, but recipients also gain access to invaluable support from ScaleReady's conglomerate of partners. These experientially-rich collaborations promise to streamline CGT manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and operational strategies.

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Wolf and co-inventor of G-Rex, praised the distinguished team at USC and CHLA: “The thoroughness of their CGT manufacturing selection process has earned them the honor of being chosen as a center for current and future clinical plans.”

In conclusion, these G-Rex Grants mark an innovative step forward for USC and CHLA, equipping researchers with the necessary resources to drive the future of cell therapy. As advancements continue, one can only hope that these efforts result in groundbreaking therapies that will provide hope to patients battling various cancers.

For anyone interested in learning more about the G-Rex Grant Program or its impact, please feel free to reach out for further information.