Applied StemCell has Joined the NIST, Genome Editing Consortium

Applied StemCell, Inc. (ASC), a leading gene-editing company, announced that it has joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Genome Editing Consortium. Applied StemCell brings to the Consortium its expertise in TARGATTTM CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tools and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology for the advancement of drug discovery and therapeutic applications.

As part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. NIST brings together industry, academia and government agencies to support the development of consensus-based standards in engineering and the physical, information, chemical and biological sciences.

The NIST Genome Editing Consortium addresses the need for robust quantitative measurements and standards to enable high confidence characterization of DNA alterations and increase confided of utilizing genome editing technologies in research and commercial products. The Consortium’s goals are to 1) evaluate genome-editing assay pipelines, 2) develop benchmark materials, 3) generate benchmark data, 4) develop suggested minimal information reporting for public studies, and 5) generate a common lexicon for genome-editing studies.

The Consortium currently has 18 members from national and international organizations and corporations providing their expertise on standards needs for genome editing technology, including CRISPR/Cas9, for therapeutic and diagnostic use. As a Consortium member, ASC is tasked with addressing pre-competitive needs, and participating in the development of experimental benchmarks, guidelines and terminology.

Ruhong Jiang, Founder of the ASC, stated: “Membership in NIST Genome Editing Consortium is the opportunity to participate in the learning assessments, from different aspects. We are excited to be part of the Consortium that is developing this ground breaking industry standards, sharing our deep expertise in stem cell technology and innovation.”

About Applied StemCell

Applied StemCell, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of a portfolio of curative therapeutic products that are enabled by its proprietary gene editing platforms, TARGATT™ and CRISPR/Cas9. The company’s therapeutic pipeline focuses on monogenic blood disorders that exhibit high genetic penetrance. For more information, please visit www.appliedstemcell.com

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