Cell and Gene Therapy at Cambridge Consultants
The cell and gene therapy team here at CC has a comprehensive breadth of relevant expertise. Our unique blend of capabilities – at the exciting intersection of biology, engineering and computation – allows us to deliver complex devices, services and technologies from concept to creation.
We collaborate with cell and gene therapy development organisations and tool providers to advance their ambitions in the space. Our role is to help revolutionise drug discovery, cell and gene manufacturing processes and equipment – as we strive to enable these life-changing therapies for patients around the world.
We collaborate with cell and gene therapy development organisations and tool providers to advance their ambitions in the space. Our role is to help revolutionise drug discovery, cell and gene manufacturing processes and equipment – as we strive to enable these life-changing therapies for patients around the world.
Talk to us about your challenge
We work with many ambitious clients
We work with both therapy developers who need custom platforms to enable their biology, and tool providers seeking to bring solutions to market that will fit the needs of this exciting and dynamic sector.
Solving the problem of microbial contamination – using new sensors and AI for real-time detection
Cell and gene therapy and regenerative medicine are regarded as the future – but manufacturing can be hindered by slow, laborious and expensive sterility testing. This whitepaper goes behind the scenes of a significant breakthrough for contamination detection during cell and gene therapy manufacturing. It tells the story of PureSentry, a prototype device for on-line, real-time detection of potential contamination in the manufacturing process for advanced therapies.
The future of process analytics in cell and gene therapy manufacture
The CGT Catapult – established by the UK government’s Innovate UK agency – has formed a consortium to accelerate process analytic technology development and reduce costs in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The CC cell and gene therapy team is playing a role in helping to ensure that therapies can be developed for use in health services throughout the world.
Understanding the life of a therapeutic cell
Understanding the behaviour of cell therapies once they’ve been administered is crucial to improving patient benefit. We developed a system as a multidisciplinary project between our microfluidics and digital imaging and AI teams to demonstrate our capabilities in EWOD, optics and machine vision. This system allows single cells to be propagated and analysed over the course of days, and analysis of both the cells and also excreted metabolites and cytokines.
Gene therapy delivery to the eye: it’s time to focus on the cutting-edge candidates
The number of effective cell and gene therapies is growing rapidly, especially for treating ocular diseases. However, much less attention has been focused on the critical issue of delivery to the eye. Accurate delivery of advanced therapies to the specific tissue within the eye offers the prospect of better therapeutic outcomes with fewer side effects.
Tech, tools & facilities
细胞培养实验室
我们的生命科学和合成生物学设施，与我们最近建立的细胞培养实验室互为补充。它们为我们从事先进的治疗和医药产品领域业务的客户服务，支持这些客户创造出世界上最先进的药物。我们给这些实验室和设施配备了工具，用以监控、培养和储存与细胞和基因治疗过程开发有关的细胞。
Molecular Biology labs
Our microbiology lab enables us to genetically modify micro-organisms and characterise them. Our facilities are containment level 2 rated for handling pathogenic strains and our in-house libraries allow rapid modular DNA construct design and assembly. We are particularly interested in building organisms that are biological sensors for healthcare and industrial biotech applications.
生命科学实验室
我们专门为在受控和管制的环境中处理和试验药物、受管制物质、生物危害物和人类样本而设计了一系列严格管理的 II 类实验室。我们的仪器室配备了计量、显微镜和产品测试设备，可以对原型和产品实施严格的验证和品控。
原型制作车间
我们有自己的电子和机械生产车间，可以生产出有技术可靠的原型机，从而将创意变为现实，有力地展现它们的价值。与此同时，车间维持极高的质量标准，符合 ISO 9001、ISO 13485 和 ISO 14001 规章的要求。这些车间具备最新的 CNC 和铣床、车床、焊接装置、线束和电缆装配工具，因此我们能够非常迅速地生产出部件并且组装出全尺寸的工作原型机以作测试和消费者试用。
Engineering workshops
Using hand and machine tools, laser cutters and 3D printers, this is where we create custom parts, build test jigs and fixtures and modify existing components. This means that our engineers can make changes to test pieces and prototypes whenever they need to, 24 hours a day.
Computer-aided design & engineering
Using the latest CAD and CAE systems, we design 3D parts for single tests pieces through to complete production assemblies with thousands of individual components. In addition to maintaining the most up-to-date software, we invest in developing proprietary tools and processes. Meanwhile, data management and version control systems allow us to work anywhere securely and efficiently.
光学实验室
我们有完整的光学实验室，可以建立复杂的、高精度的、通常用于测试原型设计以及在部署新技术对其进行测试的光学布局。实验室设有六个高规格的光学工作台，附带大功率（4 级）激光作业的可配置型互锁控制区以及用于实施进行干涉测量、光谱、低噪声荧光成像和光子计数的专业设施。实验室空间可以被划分成若干个独立的激光控制区域以同时开展多项实验，使得我们的光学工程师在开发富有创意的解决方案的过程中不受仪器限制。
微流体实验室
我们微流体实验室可以提供洁净的环境快速制造出聚二甲基硅氧烷 (PDMS) 微流体设备的原型。我们也使用最先进的显微镜光学来检查工作中的检测试剂盒，并使用 Spraytec 激光衍射系统来测量粒径分布。
Meet our cell & gene therapy experts
Providing unique solutions that take advantage of the breadth and depth of our collective knowledge is immensely fulfilling. Our Boston-based biology team includes multiple offerings in cell biology, positioning us to meet the diverse challenges our clients face where biological needs intersect with the computational and engineering arenas.
Karen Weisinger
It has been exciting to work with therapy developers and instrument vendors working at the cutting edge of cell and gene therapy, and to be able to bring CC’s engineering, computing and biology capabilities to help get our clients closer to market. Knowing that our work is ultimately helping patients is immensly satisfying.
James Hallinan
Over the last decade, I’ve been inspired and encouraged witnessing the transition from early clinical trials through to commercialisation for CGT developers. To scale and democratise these therapies to meet patient demand, we need new technologies such as automation and novel sensing, and Cambridge Consultants is able to help these come to life.
Rob Collison
Making the changes we need to see in this industry – increased accessibility, reliability and throughput – requires so many different types of people. I love working across disciplines and helping bridge the gap between them to create truly life-changing therapeutics for society.
Ellen Simmons
It is fascinating to see how different companies working in the cell and gene therapy space utilize biology in innovative ways. I love being able to showcase our broad range of skills to help companies face their challenges head on, helping companies develop their technology so others can benefit from these ground-breaking innovations.
Lindsay Tomczak
