iPS Core services
Our services are tailor made after the requests from the customer. We can provide a full service chain from processing of dermal biopsies to fully differentiated neurons.

The iPS core facility provides reprogramming services to supply scientists with human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, Neuroepithelial Stem (NES) cells and differentiated neurons. Additionally, we offer other services, such as cellbanking, training and consulting.
In collaboration with other core facilities, we have pipelines for establishment of genome-edited iPS cells using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
Fibroblast Derivation
Establishment of fibroblast cells from skin biopsy
This service takes about 1.5 months to complete and it includes:
- Establishing fibroblast cells from a 2-4 mm skin biopsy
- Feeding and splitting to deliver one T75 flask or three frozen vialsOnly freshly collected biopsies will be accepted. In the unlikely event that we fail to isolate fibroblasts from properly collected skin biopsies due to errors by the facility, there will be no charge for this attempt. We will ask the investigator to provide a new biopsy to complete the service.
iPS Reprogramming
mRNA-mediated reprogramming
Reprogramming human fibroblast cells using synthetic mRNA
This service takes about 2-3 months and it includes:
- Mycoplasma testing, expansion, cryopreservation and set-up of fibroblast cells for reprogramming.
- Reprogramming using virus-free, synthetic mRNA.
- Re-plating of transduced cells onto one 6cm plate with human recombinant laminin coating, daily feeding.
- Manual picking of minimum 12 good looking colonies, 2-3 weeks after initiation of reprogramming.
- Expansion of top four colonies, feeding daily.
- Basic characterisation of top two iPS cell clones, including cell authentication, morphology by bright-field imaging and expression of pluripotency markers by FACS.
- Delivery of 3-5 frozen vials of iPS cells of each clone.

iPS adaptation to LN521 and E8 medium condition
Transfer and adaptation of iPS cell lines to LN521 and E8 culture conditions
Laminin521 and E8 are defined culture conditions for pluripotent stem cells and we can adapt your iPS cell lines to these conditions.
This service takes 1-2 months and it includes:
- Thawing the iPS cell lines in original culture conditions
- Mycoplasma testing
- Adaptation to LN521 and E8
- Expansion, passaging and morphology confirmation
- Delivery of 3-5 vials
Neural Induction
Neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells
NES cell lines can be maintained for >100 passages and make up a stable source material for differentiation to neurons and glia.
This service takes about 1-2 months and includes:
- Neural induction of iPS cells in monolayer by dual-SMAD inhibition protocol.
- Establishment of one stable neural precursor cells/neuroepithelial stem (NES) cell line from one iPS cell clone.
- Expansion of NES cell lines in EGF/FGF2 for 6 passages.
- Basic characterisation of NES cells, including cell authentication, morphology by bright-field imaging and expression of neural stem cell markers by FACS.
- Delivery of 3-5 frozen vials of NES cells.

Neural Differentiation
Undirected differentiation of NES cells
By removing EGF/FGF2 from the culture, NES cells differentiate into 80-90% neurons and 10-20% glia after differentiation for 2 months or more.
This service takes up to 3 months (depends on customer demands) and it includes:
- Thawing and expansion of NES cells.
- Setting up for differentiation.
- Daily feeding and adding of coating over the duration of the differentiation.
- Basic characterisation of the differentiation, including morphology by bright-field imaging.
- Sampling up on request.
Genome-edited iPS cell lines
Establishment of isogenic iPS cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9 systems
In collaboration with the Karolinska Genome Engineering (KGE) core facility at Karolinska Institutet, we establish iPS cell lines with edited genomic region of your interest.
This service takes approximately three-four months and it includes:
- Consulting meeting together with KGE for feasibility
- Coordination and experimental planning
- Thawing and expansion of iPS cells
- Preparation and conduct nucleofection
- Recovering treated iPS cells and expansion
- Confirming editing efficiency in bulk (ddPCR conducted by KGE facility)
- Single-cell expansion based on editing efficiency
- Delivering of single-cell clones for sequencing (performed by KGE facility)
- Reporting the data and delivering edited iPS cell lines
Available Cell Lines
iPS cell lines and NES cell lines from non-traceable and non-diagnosed healthy control individuals.
We have iPS and NES cell lines available for requests and distribution. For details, see below.

Cell Banking
Safe storage of cell vials.
This service includes storage of fibroblast cells, iPS cells and NES cells in vapor phase liquid nitrogen tank for 1-10 years.
Karyotyping
Detection of chromosomal abnormalities
G-banding, (Giemsa stain), traditional karyotyping method that can detect chromosomal abnormalities with a resolution down to 3Mb.
This service includes:
- Expansion of cells
- Preparation and fixation
- Sending samples for G-banding
- Reporting the data
Array-CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridisation with Microarray), a technology that can detect unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities with a resolution down to 100kb.
This service includes:
- Expansion of cells
- Preparation gDNA
- Sending samples to a core facility of your choice
EB formation
Pluripotency assay
Embryonic Body (EB) formation and germ layer analysis with RT-PCR. This shows if an iPS cell line has the potential to differentiate into the three germ layers.
This service will take approximately one month and it includes:
- Expanding iPS cells
- Setup EB formation
- Harvesting EB s after two weeks
- RNA preparation and RT-PCR with markers for all three germ layers
- Reporting results as gel pictures

Cell Expansion (freezing-thawing)
Providing vials of established fibroblasts, iPS and NES cells
This service includes thawing, expansion and freezing of cells to deliver the desired quantity of cryo-vials.
Sample preparation for DNA/RNA
Isolating DNA/RNA from fibroblasts, iPS cells, NES cells and neurons
Isolated DNA or RNA can be used for example for bulk and single-cell sequencing, PCRs and arrays. This service includes:
- Thawing and expansion of cells
- Preparation of DNA and RNA
- Delivery to customer or a chosen core facility at SciLifeLab or Karolinska Institutet
Training
iPS Culture
Human iPS cell culture training
The training is tailored for each customer, in terms of duration, content and dates. You will be guided by an experienced lab technician on the basic culturing techniques such as thawing, passaging and freezing iPS cells under feeder-free condition.
NES Culture
Human NES cell culture and differentiation training
The training is tailored for each customer, in terms of duration, content and dates. You will be guided by an experienced lab technician on culturing, freezing and thawing proliferating NES cells as well as differentiation of them to neurons and glia.
Consulting
Consulting on project planning and design, financial planning, ethical considerations and result interpretation.
Price list for the services above
The listed prices are excluded INDI. INDI of 23% will be added to all prices.
This price list is valid until December 31 2021.
Price List 2021 - Fibroblasts
SEK | Unit | |
---|---|---|
Fibroblast derivation | 9,600.00 | per line for 3-5 vials |
Expansion/freezing-thawing | 3,000.00 | for 3 vials |
Cell Storage | 500.00 | per vial (yearly fee) |
Mycoplasma test | 500.00 | per sample |
Karyotyping | 5,500.00 | per sample |
Price List 2021 - iPS
SEK | Unit | |
---|---|---|
Request for available iPS cell lines | 5,500.00 | for 3 vials |
iPS reprogramming | 59,000.00 | per line for 3-5 vials |
Adaptation to LN521 and E8 medium condition | 7,200.00 | per line |
Expansion/freezing-thawing | 5,500.00 | for 3 vials |
Cell Storage | 500.00 | per vial (yearly fee) |
Karyotyping | 5,500.00 | per sample |
FACS (with analyzer-only) | - | Included in reprogramming service |
CRISPR-edited iPS lines | 59,000.00 | for 3-5 vials |
Sample prep for DNA/RNA | 6,000.00 | per sample |
EB formation | 7,000.00 | per sample |
Price List 2021 - NES
SEK | Unit | |
---|---|---|
Request for available NES cell lines | 5,500.00 | for 3 vials |
Neural Induction | 59,000.00 | per line for 3-5 vials |
Expansion/freezing-thawing | 5,500.00 | for 3 vials |
Cell Storage | 500.00 | per vial (yearly fee) |
FACS (with analyzer-only) | - | Included in neural induction service |
Sample prep for DNA/RNA | 6,000.00 | per sample |
Neural Differentiation | 8,400.00 | per (full) 6-well-plate |
Price List 2021 - Training
SEK | Unit | |
---|---|---|
Consulting | 1,500.00 | per hour |
Training | 1,000.00 | per hour |
Available iPS Cell Lines
Cell Line | Gender | Age | Reprogramming Method | Reference (PMID) |
---|---|---|---|---|
CTRL5 | Female | Child | Sendai Virus | 25043502 |
CTRL7 | Male | Middle Age | Sendai Virus | 27789397 |
CTRL9 | Male | Child | Sendai Virus/mRNA | 28395796 |
CTRL10 | Male | Child | Sendai Virus/mRNA | 28395796 |
KICR001-A | Male | Old | mRNA | |
CTRL14 | Female | Child | mRNA |
Available NES Cell Lines
Cell Line | Gender | Age | Comment | Reference (PMID) |
---|---|---|---|---|
CTRL1 | Female | Old | 28924182 | |
CTRL3 | Male | Child | 28924182 | |
CTRL5 | Female | Child | ||
CTRL7 | Male | Middle Age | 31302032 | |
CTRL9 | Male | Child | 29456185 | |
CTRL10 | Male | Child | 31302032 | |
KICR001-A | Male | Old | ||
AF22 | Female | Middle Age | 22272239 | |
Sai2 | Captured from the developing brain | 23884946 |