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The main research subject of our lab is 'Muse cells' which we found as a novel type of non-tumorigenic pluripotent stem cells.
They possess several properties that are not recognized in other stem cells.
Furthermore, they are collectable from easy accessible sources, and thus are feasible for clinical application.
We are propelling Muse cell project from the standpoint of basic research as well as of pre-clinical study.

Announcement regarding patents related to Muse cells owned by Tohoku University

Tohoku University, in cooperation with the Life Science Institute Co., Ltd. (a group company of the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) and other universities, has filed and acquired a number of patent applications and patents related to Muse cells*. Now, most of the ownership share of Life Science Institute Co., Ltd. in such patent applications and patents has been transferred to Tohoku University.

While the Muse cell basic patent (Japanese Patent No. 5185443), owned by Professor Mari Dezawa at our university and other inventors, and its related Japanese and foreign patents were exclusively licensed to the Life Science Institute Co., Ltd., the license agreement has been terminated on August 31, 2023, at which time all the rights under the basic patent family has been completely returned to Professor Dezawa and other inventors.

Therefore, most of the patents related to Muse cells are currently concentrated at Tohoku University and now licenses are available even under the basic patent family.

Tohoku University will strive to apply these patents to promote regenerative medicine using Muse cells in collaboration with other universities.

Contact information regarding patents related to Muse cells:
Tohoku University Industry-Academia Collaboration Organization
Intellectual Property Department
e-mail:chizaibu*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

*Muse cells(the multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cell.
A new type of pluripotent stem cells discovered from adult human mesenchymal tissue(Kuroda et al., 2010, PNAS;Wakao et al., 2011, PNAS; Kuroda et al., Nature Protocol, 2013), identified as in human dermal fibroblasts that are characterized by stress tolerance, expression of pluripotency markers, self-renewal, and the ability to differentiate from a single cell. In collaboration with major national and international institutions, we are promoting research on Muse cell-based regenerative medicine for diseases without definitive treatments.

Clinical trial of Muse cell therapy has started as below.

  1. Clinical trial of Muse cell product targetting acute myocardial infarction has started from February 2018. Press Releases
  2. Clinical trial of Muse cell product targetting ischemic stroke patient has started from September 2018. Press Releases
  3. Clinical trial of Muse cell product targetting epidermolysis bullosa has started from December 2018. Press Releases
  4. Clinical trial with a Muse cell product targetting spinal cord injuries has started from July 2019. Press Releases
  5. Clinical trial with Muse cell-based product in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been started from January 2021. Press Releases
  6. Clinical trial of Muse cell-based product to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been started from April 2021. Press Releases

These clinical trials are conducted by Life Science Institute Inc., the group company of Mitsubishi Chemical Group.

What's New

Prof. Dezawa's research article 'Muse cell offer new hope for ‘reparative medicine’' was published in Impact.

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/sil/impact/2019/00002019/00000003/art00015

PDF

Muse Cells book has just published by Springer.

This book presents up-to-date knowledge on Muse cells, newly recognized pluripotent stem cells that will be vital for next-generation medical care.

https://www.springer.com/jp/book/9784431568452

2018.4.5 NAI Fellow Induction Ceremony was held on April 5, 2018 at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington D.C.

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*Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

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