The disclosure provides an episome comprising OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, cMYC, NANOG, LIN28, and NRSA2. Also disclosed is a method for producing an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell. The method comprises introducing an episome into a cell, wherein the episome comprises OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, cMYC, NANOG, LIN28, and NRSA2, and growing the cell under conditions to select for the presence of the episome. The method also comprises selecting a primary clone and growing the primary clone in a medium comprising a MEK inhibitor and a GSK3b inhibitor.

Methods of expanding peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from blood of patients with hematological malignancies, including lymphomas and leukemias, genetic modifications of expanded PBLs to incorporate chimeric antigen receptors, genetically modified T cell receptors, and other genetic modifications, and uses of such expanded and/or modified PBLs in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and hematological malignancies are disclosed herein.

A method for coordinating the manufacturing of an expanded cell therapy product for a patient may include receiving a cell order request to expand the cell therapy product for the patient; generating a patient-specific identifier or cell order identifier associated with the cell order request; and initiating a process to expand the cell therapy product from at least some of a solid tumor obtained from the patient. If acceptance parameters for the expansion cell therapy product do not meet certain acceptance criteria at a second time point subsequent to a first time point in the expansion process, it is determined whether re-performing the expansion of the cell therapy product using the cell expansion technique is possible from the first time point based on the acceptance parameters at the second time point. If such re-performing the expansion is possible, patient treatment events that use the expanded cell therapy product are rescheduled.

This document provides methods and materials involved obtaining induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. For example, methods and materials for increasing the efficiency for making iPS cells as well as methods and materials for selecting iPS cells are provided.

The invention relates to a method for inducing pluripotent stem cells, wherein a mammalian cell is contacted with a compound characterized by a general formula 1 wherein R.sup.1 is (CH.sub.2).sub.mE, with E being CCH or CN and m being 0, 1, or 2, and R.sup.2 is selected from F, CI, Br, OR.sup.3 and R.sup.3, with R.sup.3 being selected from H, (CH.sub.yF.sub.2-y).sub.n CH.sub.XF.sub.3-X, with n=0 or 1. The invention further relates to stem cells obtained by the method of the invention, and culture media comprising the compound of the invention.

The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

A recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, including an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene, wherein the genes are inserted in the vector and an induced pluripotent stem cell including the recombinant vector. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, including inserting each of the three genes into a vector such that the genes are capable of expression. Also disclosed are a first recombinant vector for preparing a second recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, said first recombinant vector including at least two of the following four genes: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Myc family gene and a Sox family gene. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the first recombinant vector, including inserting the at least two genes into a vector.

The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Provided is a method for inducing a skeletal muscle cell including a step of introducing MyoD family gene or an expression product thereof and Myc family gene or an expression product thereof into a somatic cell of a mammal.

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing hearing loss in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject in need thereof, at least Myc or an agent that increases the expression of Myc in an inner ear organ, or associated neural structures, of the subject so as to treat or prevent the hearing loss.