The European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) was established in 1984 as a cell culture collection to service the research community and provide an International Depository Authority recognised patent depository for Europe. Over the last 20 years ECACC has expanded and diversified to become one of the premier collections of authenticated cell cultures in the world and this remains the core of ECACC’s business. The collections currently hold over 40,000 cell lines representing 45 different species, 50 tissue types, 300 HLA types, 450 monoclonal antibodies and at least 800 genetic disorders. The development and maintenance of such a diverse collection has inevitably produced a high level of specialist knowledge and this combined with the support of the Health Protection Agency, Porton Down has enabled ECACC to position itself as a centre of expertise in all aspects of cell culture.
 






Services
ECACC has not only focused on the development of its collections but has also used its expertise to develop a range of cell culture services which it offers to both the academic and commercial scientific community. Such services include:

• Microbial testing
• Authentication 
• Cell banking
• Safe depository
• Patent depository
• Training courses
• Cell culture scale-up
• EBV immortalisation service
  
  
  

Cell Products
Not only has ECACC developed a range of cell culture services it has also diversified into new product areas. The most important products comprise high quality purified cell line DNA extracted from any of its collection cell lines as a custom service. ECACC also has a range of DNA available from stock which includes Human Random Control DNA panels for genetics research and DNA from ECACC’s HLA defined cell collection.

ECACC within the Health Protection Agency
ECACC forms part of the Business Division of the Health Protection Agency that reports to the UK Department of Health. As has been the case since its inception, ECACC continues to operate out of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR), which is now the Health Protection Agency, Porton Down.

ECACC continues to benefit from the unique depth and diversity of support available from the 300 or more scientists employed at the Health Protection Agency, Porton Down which is internationally renowned for its work on infectious diseases including their diagnosis, transmission, pathology, prevention and cure. In more recent years the Porton Down site has established a reputation for vaccine and product development from pathogenic bacteria. Examples include anthrax vaccine and the therapeutic product, Dysport (from C.botulin) which are manufactured on site in fully GMP compliant facilities.