Cell therapy has great potential in treating and perhaps even curing people suffering from diseases such as chronic heart failure, Parkinson's, kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, and several forms of cancer.
However, the development of new cell therapy has so far lacked a facility that can ensure the transition from initial successful laboratory trials with new therapies to the final development of cell therapies that can be used in clinical studies.
DTU has the necessary expertise
The new world-class facility, Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, will be located at DTU due to the University's extensive cell therapy expertise.
DTU President Anders Bjarklev is pleased with the upcoming facility.
"The location of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator at DTU allows for significant synergies with our research, education and innovation in health tech and biotechnology, which is happening in close collaboration with start-ups and companies," says Anders Bjarklev.
"The Cellerator will provide our researchers and students with a unique opportunity to help translate technology into the development and application of cell therapy. DTU is among the world's leading universities in biotech and innovation, and the Cellerator will be a key element in our vision to maintain and strengthen this position."
Closes 'gap' in cell therapy development
The new advanced laboratory facility will be used by both researchers and companies working with the development of cell therapy in collaboration with the Cellerator staff.
"We've seen major advances in cell therapy in the research laboratories in recent years, but many promising cell therapy candidates face difficulties reaching the clinical phase, partly because we can't currently develop cell therapy products in large, consistent quantities here in Denmark," says Thomas H.R. Carlsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator.
"I'm thrilled to be heading an initiative that will change this and provide hope to people living with chronic diseases."
Leading in Europe
Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator will offer a wide variety of services, ranging from development of stem cell lines for use in cell therapy development, to the production and release of medicinal products for clinical studies, as well as support for applications to health authorities. This is done with a built-in flexibility that makes it possible to adapt to the changing demands in the cell therapy field that is developing rapidly.
The ambitions for the Cellerator are high, and international exchange of experience with similar facilities in Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States is in the pipeline.
"We expect the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator to be the critical link here in Denmark that enables ground-breaking stem cell discoveries to be taken all the way to proof-of-concept in human chronic disease trials," says Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
"We believe the Cellerator can be a leading player in Europe and a model for similar facilities around the world, helping Denmark to punch above its weight in the search for cures to some of the world's most serious chronic diseases."
The construction of the facility is expected to begin in summer 2024, with the facility operational in 2027.
