If you are working at or for a for-profit company, you will need to enter into an Industry Research License. If you are an academic researcher whose research is sponsored by a for-profit company, your sponsor will likely need to enter into an Industry Research License.

2. What is the process for entering into an Industry Research License and Material Transfer Agreement?

The first step is to contact the licensing staff at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to discuss the Agreement and your plans for using the cells. The WARF licensing staff will also discuss the basic fees required to begin work, which are based on the size of your company.

3. What do the Industry Research License and Material Transfer Agreement allow my company to do?

The Agreement allows for internal research, as well as access to human and non-human primate stem cell lines. Under this Agreement, your researchers will be allowed to conduct internal research, including the differentiation to any cell types, as well as the derivation of new lines. This Agreement also defines the parameters for commercialization of products. A separate Industry Commercial License Agreement must be negotiated before product development or commercialization occurs. Please see the Summary of Research and Commercial License rights.

While you may obtain stem cells from other sources, you must still enter into an agreement with WARF to use the cells in commercial research under WARF's patent rights.

Stem cell commercialization rights are defined by cell type (cardiomyocytes, for example) and application (screening, for example). All fields are available except heart, neural, and pancreatic cells for cell therapy and diagnostic applications. Please contact the WARF licensing staff for more specific details.

WARF and WiCell have a variety of patent applications on stem cells and their derivatives. Please contact the WARF licensing staff for more specific details.

Please contact the WARF licensing staff to initiate discussions.

The cells will be shipped frozen in two vials in dry ice. Each vial contains enough cells to expand the cell line. The second vial should be stored frozen and used as a backup if there is a problem growing the first vial of cells. Stem cells will be shipped within 10 working days of receiving all necessary documents and payments.

Yes, as detailed in the Agreements under which cells are provided, restrictions include the following: The Transferee warrants that the Materials must be used in compliance with any and all applicable governmental rules and regulations relating to the handling or use of such Materials. Transferee further warrants that three experiments that will not be performed with Materials are: (I) intermixing of Materials with an intact embryo, either human or nonhuman; (II) implanting Materials or products of Materials in a uterus; and (III) attempting to make whole embryos by any method. Further, Transferee acknowledges that the Materials have not been prepared using protocols appropriate for therapeutic use and Transferee agrees not to use the Materials for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Introduction of Materials or derivatives of the Materials into human beings requires approval of the appropriate review board at Transferee's/s' institution. Recipients are required to adhere to all local laws regarding the import of this material and any restrictions to research.

The written protocols for culturing and maintaining human embryonic stem cells are mailed to the primary investigator once all parties have signed the required licensing agreements. Please save this copy of the protocols because we do not include a copy with the cell shipment.

No, but we will provide instructions on how to prepare the media and the mouse embryonic feeder cells. It is the investigator's responsibility to procure the media components and to isolate the mouse feeder layer.

Yes. WiCell currently offers a 3-day training course in Madison, Wisc., on basic stem cell culture techniques tailored to WiCell’s five cell lines. UCSF offers a 3-day training program at their facility. ESI currently does not hold hESC training at their Singapore facility but you can download a copy of the hES Cell Culture Methodology Manual from their Web site.

No. All identifiers associated with the embryo donors were removed prior to the derivation of our human embryonic cell lines.

No. WiCell's mission is to distribute cells to academic researchers worldwide and to engage in research using scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The cells are supplied at a price below our costs.