The new site of the Cell Production Centre in Epalinges obtained authorisation to operate from Swissmedic in January 2015. With its custom equipment and state-of-the-art technologies, the facility can produce cells and tissue used to treat patients and conduct research under ideal conditions.
Following a long inspection procedure, Swissmedic recently granted its authorisation to operate to the new site of the Cell Production Centre (CPC) in Epalinges headed by Dr Jean-François Brunet. The CPC will provide clinicians and researchers with a facility to run their clinical trials in cell therapy in new areas of reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery and cardiology.
The centre already holds a leading position in Switzerland in the production of autologous skin, which means the patient’s own cells or tissue are used for grafts. This technique is used to treat patients from the regional Burn Centre (Centre romand des brûlés) in Lausanne. Healthy skin is harvested from the patient and used to culture cells. The tissue grown is then applied to the patient’s burn wounds. This procedure is one example of the successful direct clinical application of advanced fundamental research carried out at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).
The CPC will provide clinicians and researchers with a facility to run their clinical trials in cell therapy in new areas of reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery and cardiology.
The project to open the Cell Production Centre, which comes under the Department of Laboratories, was launched as part of the CHUV’s 2009-2013 Strategic Plan. After being awarded funding from the Grand Council in October 2011, construction began at the current site in September 2012.
This authorisation reflects the compliance of the new site’s production facilities and procedures with Swissmedic’s rigorous standards. And this was made possible through the close collaboration within the Department of Laboratories, the Department of Construction, Engineering, Technology and Security and the Logistics Department of the CHUV.
