Generation and comprehensive characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells for translational research

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold immense potential in disease modeling, drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Despite advances in reprogramming methods, generation of clinical-grade iPSCs remains a challenge. Reported here is the first off-the-shelf reprogramming kit, CTS CytoTune-iPS 2.1, specifically designed for clinical and translational research. Workflow gaps were identified, and methods developed were used to consistently generate iPSC from multiple cell types. Resulting clones were subjected to characterization that included confirmation of pluripotency, preservation of genomic integrity and authentication of cell banks via an array of molecular methods including high resolution microarray and next-generation sequencing. Development of integrated xeno-free workflows combined with comprehensive characterization offers generation of high-quality iPSCs that are suited for clinical and translational research.