Datum: 15^th June 2016

Whitley H35 Hypoxystation used in heart regeneration project

Dr Vaibhao Janbandhu is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCR) in Sydney. He has been in contact with Don Whitley Scientific to explain how his lab’s work has benefited from the use of a Whitley H35 Hypoxystation. Vaibhao uses the Hypoxystation to isolate, culture and characterise adult cardiac stem cells (CSCs).

Dr Janbandhu had already been using a H35 that was set up at the institute for almost three years before he got his own unit installed last year. Specifically, his project is to find new ways to stimulate heart regeneration during ageing and after heart attack. For this he needs a way to isolate, culture and characterise adult CSCs. In Vaibhao’s words the H35 Hypoxystation seems well suited for this application: “the DWS Hypoxystation provides a highly stabilised HEPA-filtered environment in which levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity are precisely controlled and it will be an integral part of the project to advance the project aims”.

Vaibhao explains that mammalian stem cells reside in a specialised cellular microenvironment. This niche and the stem cell niche is characterised by a low partial oxygen pressure. This hypoxic niche protects stem cells from deleterious effects of O2 on proteins and DNA. These precise conditions are essential for Dr Janbandhu’s work as they accurately replicate the in vivo environment.

His work also see benefits when comparing the use of a Hypoxystation as opposed to using a CO2 incubator. Typically, cell culture work involves methods which include isolating cells under their usual physiologically relevant conditions and then working with them in “bench-top conditions” where cells are exposed to non-physiological oxygen. This can then lead to altered hypoxic response, metabolism, reactive oxygen species and DNA damage response. This metabolic stress introduces unknown outcomes and may lead to results inconsistent with physiological processes. Therefore, the precise control of oxygen levels in cell culture has been shown to be vital for reproducible and physiologically relevant results, transforming the working environment in Vaibhao’s lab.

As well as the precise controlling of conditions, Vaibhao likes the remote access feature on his H35 Hypoxystation. The remote access allows Vaibhao to log into his Hypoxystation’s touchscreen control whilst away from the unit, offering increased flexibility in his working methods. Additionally, he likes how he can view operating conditions, set parameters and change access levels remotely.

Dr Janbandhu opted to purchase a Hypoxystation from Don Whitley Scientific for the level of service and specification we were able to provide in Australia. Other companies either couldn’t fulfil configuration requirements and didn’t provide sales and or service in Australia. Don Whitley Scientific’s office in Australia, provides both fantastic sales and service nationwide. Vaibhao also states that from “discussion with other research groups across the world we felt confident to go for a DWS Hypoxystation”.

Dr Vaibhao Janbandhu has this to say about Don Whitley Scientific Pty Ltd: “I would like to thank your company personnel at the customer services division in Australia for their excellent support. Your Sales & Service Manager in Australia, Grant Shallcross, took care of all my queries in a jiffy!”. Vaibhao added that the funding for the purchase came from the James N Kirby Foundation and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Dr Vaibhao Janbandhu
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney