At a Glance
- Company: Cellares; Stanford Medicine CDCM/IMA
- Location: South San Francisco, USA (Cellares); Stanford, USA
- Main headline: Platform process for HIV and 19+ rare diseases
- Focus area: Gene‑edited HSC manufacturing/release testing
- Next steps: Standardise Cell Shuttle/Cell Q workflows
What happened?
Cellares announced a collaboration with Stanford Medicine’s Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM) and Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA) on 3 February 2026 to automate manufacturing and release testing for gene‑edited hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapies. The partnership expands Cellares’ Cell Shuttle beyond T‑cells into HSCs using Stanford’s approaches.
Why does it matter?
Gene‑edited HSCs offer one‑time cures rebuilding blood/immune systems for HIV and monogenic diseases, but manual processes limit scale. Automation via Cell Shuttle/Cell Q enables consistent, high‑throughput production, accelerating clinical translation.
Who’s behind it?
Cellares’ IDMO platform automates end‑to‑end cell therapy; Stanford’s Matthew Porteus lab pioneers HSC editing for HIV/rare diseases via “safe harbor knock‑in.”
How was it achieved?
Cellares establishes standardised Cell Shuttle manufacturing and Cell Q assays for Harbor Knock gene‑editing, reducing variability for multiple indications.
What’s next?
Preclinical process development toward clinical; Cellares expands global Smart Factories (NJ commercial 2027, Europe/Japan).
What are people saying?
Cellares CEO Fabian Gerlinghaus: “Remove barriers… cost‑effective and accessible.” Porteus: HSC editing applicable “across HIV and wide range of monogenic diseases.”