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In a first for India, Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, a type of gene therapy for blood cancer treatment, was successfully conducted last Friday at the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Hostpital in Mumbai in collaboration with IIT Bombay. The Central government has now allocated Rs 19.15 crore to conduct first-in-human phase-I/ II clinical trials of the CAR-T cells, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), part of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said on Thursday. The CAR-T therapy has emerged as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, and clinical trials across the globe have shown promising results in end-stage patients, particularly the ones suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Despite a proven therapeutic potential for cancer patients, this gene therapy is still not available in India. A patient’s CAR-T cell therapy costs Rs. 3-4 crore and, therefore, the challenge lies in not just developing the technology at scale but also bring the cost down. And last Friday’s success may just be the first step in that direction. The CAR-T cells were designed and manufactured at IIT Bombay’s Bioscience and Bioengineering (BSBE) department.

Subhasis Chaudhuri, the director of IIT Bombay, said: “Our scientists along with Tata Memorial Hospital have come out with the most sophisticated therapy in cancer treatment. If the trials are successful, it may save millions of lives by making the treatment available in India at an affordable cost.”

The clinical trials for the “first in India” gene therapy are being conducted by Dr. (Surg Cdr) Gaurav Narula, Professor of Paediatric Oncology and Health Sciences, and his team from TMC, Mumbai. The novel CAR-T cells that will act as drugs were manufactured by Professor Rahul Purwar, Bioscience and Bioengineering (BSBE) department, and his team at IIT Bombay. The design, development, and extensive pre-clinical testing were carried out by IIT-B as a collaborative project with Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai by the two investigators, DBT said via a press release.

The work is partly supported by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). The National Biopharma Mission, under DBT-BIRAC, is also supporting the TMC-IIT Bombay in the Phase I/II trial of their CAR-T product.

Besides this, the National Biopharma Mission is also supporting the development of a Lentiviral vector manufacturing facility for packaging plasmids used to transfer the modified T cell inside the body, a cGMP facility for T-cell transduction, and the expansion for CAR T-cell manufacturing to two other organisations.

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Polaris Dawn Crew Reaches Record-Breaking Altitude With SpaceX Dragon

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September 12, 2024

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Polaris Dawn Crew Reaches Record-Breaking Altitude With SpaceX Dragon

Polaris Dawn, a private space mission has set a new record for the highest orbit reached by humans since NASA‘s Apollo programme. On 10th September 2024, the four-member Polaris Dawn crew aboard SpaceX‘s Dragon spacecraft Resilience achieved an apogee of 1,400.7 kilometres. This surpasses the 1966 Gemini 11 mission’s altitude of 1,373 kilometres, marking the furthest distance travelled by humans since the last lunar landing over 50 years ago. After taking off from Florida at 5:23 a.m. EDT (0923 GMT), the spacecraft orbited Earth eight times before reaching its highest point.

A Historic Feat

The crew, led by billionaire and Polaris Dawn mission commander Jared Isaacman, includes pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Isaacman highlighted that Gillis and Menon have now set a record as the women who have travelled the furthest from Earth. The crew’s mission aimed to gather data on the effects of space conditions on human health and spacecraft systems, venturing through sections of the Van Allen radiation belt, an area where charged particles accumulate.

Scientific Purpose

The altitude record was set to help SpaceX further its research in preparation for future deep space missions. By exposing the Resilience spacecraft to different levels of radiation, scientists aim to better understand the impacts on both the human body and modern spacecraft technology.

The mission also tests how touchscreens and digital displays perform under such conditions, which has never been done before at this altitude.

Honouring Past Achievements

As a tribute to NASA’s Gemini 11 astronauts, Charles “Pete” Conrad and Richard “Dick” Gordon, the Polaris Dawn crew carried a medallion similar to the Gemini 11 patch. The medallion was auctioned to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, continuing the legacy of space exploration for the greater good.

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China’s Moon Base Plan Targets the Lunar South Pole by 2035

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September 12, 2024

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China’s Moon Base Plan Targets the Lunar South Pole by 2035

China is set to establish a moon base at the lunar south pole by 2035, with the project divided into two key phases. This ambitious initiative, led by China with Russia’s support, is part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) programme. Initially outlined in June 2021, the plan will involve constructing a basic robotic moon base, requiring five super heavy-lift rocket launches between 2030 and 2035.

At the recent International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Anhui on 5th September, Wu Yanhua, the chief designer of China’s deep space exploration project, revealed further details of the plan. Phase one is expected to be complete by 2035, with a more expansive model scheduled for around 2050. This will see the development of a comprehensive lunar station network. It will use the lunar orbit station as a central hub and establish exploration nodes at the lunar equator and far side of the moon.

Power and Communication Networks

The ILRS is expected to be powered by a combination of solar, radioisotope, and nuclear generators. The network will include Earth-moon communication links and high-speed lunar surface communication systems. The project also aims to deploy lunar vehicles such as hoppers, unmanned long-range vehicles, and crewed rovers, both pressurised and unpressurised.

Partnerships and Global Cooperation

During the conference, it was announced that Senegal had become the 13th country to join the project. While China and Russia are leading the ILRS, the United States is spearheading the Artemis programme, which seeks to land astronauts on the moon in the coming years. Both nations aim to achieve this goal by the end of the decade.

In addition to lunar exploration, Wu highlighted that the ILRS would also pave the way for future crewed missions to Mars.

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

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September 11, 2024

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Can Ageing Be Reversed in Human Eggs? New Mouse Study Offers Hope

A groundbreaking study from the National University of Singapore has revealed that it is possible to reverse the ageing process in mouse egg cells, offering new hope for fertility treatments. Researchers, led by Dr Rong Li, Director of the Mechanobiology Institute, have discovered a method to rejuvenate ageing mouse oocytes by placing them into younger follicles. This advancement could pave the way for similar approaches in human fertility, although more research is needed before applying these findings to people.

The Rejuvenation Technique

The process involves removing aged oocytes from older mice and transplanting them into young mouse follicles. As oocytes age, they face challenges with cell division, often resulting in chromosomal errors that increase miscarriage rates. By reintroducing these older oocytes into a young follicle, scientists claim they have managed to restore crucial connections and enhance cell function. This method has shown that oocytes can recover their youthful characteristics, leading to improved cell maturation and lower rates of chromosomal abnormalities.

Significance for Fertility

Rejuvenated oocytes exhibited better maturation rates and fewer chromosomal issues. When these eggs were fertilised and reimplanted into mice, there was a notable increase in successful pregnancies. Dr Rong Li and her team suggest that this method could potentially be adapted to human cells, offering a new avenue for treating age-related fertility problems.

Looking Ahead

The implications of this research are promising, claim scientists. If similar techniques can be developed for human use, they could transform the way age-related fertility issues are addressed. The study highlights the crucial role of the follicular environment in egg quality and points to future possibilities for enhancing reproductive health.

As scientists continue to explore these findings, there is optimism about the potential for new fertility treatments that could help many individuals struggling with age-related reproductive challenges.

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