iZumi Bio and The J. David Gladstone Institutes, an independent non-profit biomedical research organization affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco, have launched a research collaboration and licensing agreement to focus on applications for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

iPS cells are ‘reprogrammed’ adult cells that have similar properties and potential to those of human embryonic stem (ES) cells, yet do not raise the same ethical concerns as ES and can be generated in a patient-specific manner to avoid immune rejection, according to the collaboration.

“The Gladstone relationship with iZumi Bio combines our work in cardiovascular disease and stem cell science with first-class investors and an experienced management team,” said Deepak Srivastava, MD, director of the Gladstone of CV disease. “It's an ideal model for advancing science in a focused, efficient way.”

The organizations said the elements of the broad partnership include iZumi taking a license to certain Gladstone patents and sponsoring research related to iPS cells and cardiovascular disease. Srivastava will lead the research and will join iZumi’s scientific advisory board.