Evaluating In-House Growth Factors for Reliable hiPSC-Based Cardiac and Kidney Differentiation

This project will test whether growth factors produced in-house at the host institute can reliably replace commercially purchased growth factors used to grow heart and kidney cells from human stem cells. These growth factors are essential but costly, and their performance can decline when they are repeatedly warmed and cooled during routine lab work. The student will compare commercial and in-house versions of BMP4, FGF2, and FGF9 by monitoring how well stem cells develop into heart and kidney cell types using simple imaging and flow-based measurements. The project will help both institutions improve the reliability and affordability of stem-cell-based research, while strengthening collaboration between the University of Toronto and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. The techniques and insights the student brings back to Canada will support the expansion of organoid and stem-cell platforms in Canadian research labs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eleanor Fish;Korosh Kianizad

Student:

Partner:

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences and Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Related projects

Discover more projects across a range of sectors and discipline — from AI to cleantech to social innovation.

View all
Current openings

Find the perfect opportunity to put your academic skills and knowledge into practice!

Find Projects

Mitacs Partners

The strong support from governments across Canada, international partners, universities, colleges, companies, and community organizations has enabled Mitacs to focus on the core idea that talent and partnerships power innovation — and innovation creates a better future.

Government
Academic
Industry
Innovation
International

International

Load More

International

Load More

Join a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Subscribe to our newsletter now!

Subscribe

Mitacs — Return on Innovation

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.