The Stem Cell Podcast

A podcast dedicated to culturing knowledge in stem cell research. Brought to you by STEMCELL Technologies.

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357 episodes
Updated July 21

Episodes357

Newest first

Oct 1, 2019 · 1 hr 19 min
Ep. 152: “Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiomyopathy” Featuring Dr. Paul Burridge
Guest: Dr. Paul Burridge is a Professor in Pharmacology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Burridge’s lab uses human iPSCs and other next-gen technologies in pharmacogenomics, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. Currently, they are focusing on modeling chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy using hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts to study drug toxicity effects. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiffTM Cardiomyocyte Media Stem Cell Podcast Newsletter The Stem Cell Science Round Up World’s First Three-Organoid System – Scientists have created a functional connected system of liver, pancreas and bile duct organoids, and used the system to study human endoderm organogenesis. Identifying Cancer-Related Mutations – Investigators have developed a strategy to identify cancer-related point mutations in primed and naive human PSCs. Senescence in Dopaminergic Neurons – A DNA binding protein has been shown to prevent cellular senescence in dopaminergic neurons, and loss of the protein may contribute to Parkinson’s disease. Gene Editing for Fanconi Anemia – Researchers have used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to correct mutations in HSCs from patients with Fanconi anemia. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Burridge Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 24, 2019 · 1 hr 19 min
The Stem Cell Podcast Does ISSCR – Part 3
Intro: Back in June 2019, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the last of three special episodes featuring interviews with some of the top researchers in the stem cell field, as well as with up-and-coming junior trainees who were challenged by Daylon to summarize their research in one minute. Junior Trainees: We asked junior trainees to summarize their research in only one minute. Take a listen to the episode, and vote in our Twitter poll for the researcher that did the best job! You’ll hear from: Hannah Black; Undergraduate Researcher Assistant, University of Southern California Ana Rita Leitoguinho; Graduate Student, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Aaron Sandoval; Undergraduate Student, University of Florida Oriana Genolet; Graduate Student, Max Planck Institute Senior Researchers: Dr. Justin Ichida, PhD; Assistant Professor, University of Southern California Dr. Justin Ichida focuses on developing in vitro models of human neurodegenerative diseases by converting patients’ cells into disease-affected neural cells. Dr. Irving Weissman, MD; Director, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Dr. Irv Weissman is a pioneer in the field of hematopoietic stem cell biology and cancer research. Currently, he is studying the potential of CD47 as a cancer therapeutic, and identifying cancer stem cells from a variety of blood and solid cancers. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 17, 2019 · 1 hr 24 min
Ep. 151: “Stem Cells and Aging” Featuring Dr. Pekka Katajisto
Guest: Dr. Pekka Katajisto is an Associate Professor at the University of Helsinki and at the Karolinska Institutet. His laboratory studies both stem cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms altering tissue renewal capacity, and how such mechanisms ultimately result in the functional decline we recognize as aging. They mainly focus on the intestinal epithelium, studying asymmetric cell division, cellular metabolism and cell fate, and the stem cell niche. Featured Products and Resources: Intestinal Cell News Organoid Research Techniques E-Book Resources and Links An In-Vitro Model of Human Neurulation – A new reproducible, self-organizing model of human neurulation has been developed and used to model the early development of Huntington’s disease. 3D Printed Organ Building Blocks – Researchers have developed a biomanufacturing method using patient-specific organoids as building blocks to develop organ-specific tissues at therapeutic scales. Engineering a T Cell Therapy for Cancer – To increase the levels of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in cancer patients, scientists generated HSC-engineered iNKT cells which were able to suppress tumor growth in a mouse model. CAR T-Cell Therapy Harnessed to Treat Heart Disease – While T cell immunotherapy is typically used to treat certain cancers, investigators repurposed the technology to target cardiac fibrosis in mice. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Pekka Katajisto Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 10, 2019 · 1 hr 23 min
The Stem Cell Podcast Does ISSCR – Part 2
Intro: Back in June 2019, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the second of three special episodes featuring interviews with some of the top researchers in the stem cell field, as well as with up-and-coming junior trainees who talked to Daylon about their research and experience at the conference. Junior Trainees: We asked Junior Trainees the following question: WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE CURRENTLY FACING THE STEM CELL RESEARCH FIELD? Ojeni Touma; Intern, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Oriana Genolet; Graduate Student, Max Planck Institute Alejandro Torres; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Vivian Lu; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Aaron Sandoval; Undergraduate Student, University of Florida Sanjay Kumar; Scientist, Christian Medical College, India Ana Rita Leitoguinho; Graduate Student, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Namisha Mazumdar; Undergraduate Student, University of Southern California Senior Researchers: Dr. Leonard Zon, MD; Principal Investigator, Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Dr. Leonard Zon is the founder of the International Society of Stem Cell Research, and is a pioneer in the fields of stem cell biology and cancer genetics. His lab uses the zebrafish model for researching hematopoiesis, and to screen for oncogenes and proteins. Dr. Ting Chen, PhD; Assistant Investigator, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing Dr. Ting Chen studies epithelial regeneration, using mice as a genetic model. Her lab focuses on stem cell self-renewal mechanisms and fate specification. Dr. Dieter Egli, PhD; Assistant Professor, Columbia University Before iPSC technology, Dr. Egli used somatic cell nuclear transfer on human cells to generate stem cells. His current work focuses on deriving pluripotent stem cells for various purposes, including using human derived beta cells to study diabetes. Dr. Roger Barker, PhD; Professor, University of Cambridge Dr. Barker works on the clinical aspects of Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, including the study of disease heterogeneity using cognitive testing, functional imaging and genetic biomarkers. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 3, 2019 · 1 hr 23 min
Ep. 150: “Brain Organoids in Space” Featuring Dr. Alysson Muotri
Guest: Dr. Alysson Muotri is a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and Co-Director of the UCSD Stem Cell Program. His research focuses on modeling neurological diseases using human iPSCs, and he is leading a project investigating the effect of microgravity on human brain organoids. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit Organoid Research Resources Resources and Links Detecting an Unreported Zika Outbreak using Genetics – By sequencing Zika virus and analyzing travel patterns, a previously unreported 2017 Zika outbreak in Cuba has been identified. Ketogenic Diet Supports Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation – Researchers have found that ketone bodies enhance the activity of intestinal stem cells, while a glucose-rich diet has the opposite effect. Cancer Cells ‘Corrupt’ Their Healthy Neighbours – Scientists have developed a technique whereby metastatic cancer cells release a cell-penetrating fluorescent protein, allowing them to study the tumor microenvironment. 3D Heart Cell-on-Chip Platform – Investigators have developed an organ-on-an-electronic-chip platform, which uses biosensors to measure the electrophysiology of 3D cardiac spheroids. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Alysson Muotri Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Aug 27, 2019 · 1 hr 19 min
The Stem Cell Podcast Does ISSCR – Part 1
Intro: Back in June 2019, we attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual conference in Los Angeles, California! Here is the first of three special episodes featuring interviews with some of the top researchers in the stem cell field, as well as with up-and-coming junior trainees who talked to Daylon about their research and experience at the conference. Junior Trainees: We asked Junior Trainees the following question: WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING RESEARCH THAT YOU’VE SEEN AT ISSCR? Dr. Amritha Jaishankar; Associate Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Aaron Sandoval; Undergraduate Student, University of Florida Ana Rita Leitoguinho; Graduate Student, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Alejandro Torres; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Oriana Genolet; Graduate Student, Max Planck Institute Ojeni Touma; Intern, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Vivian Lu; Graduate Student, University of California, Los Angeles Senior Researchers: Dr. Senta Georgia, PhD; Principal Investigator, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Dr. Georgia is investigating how pancreatic beta cells differentiate during organogenesis, how they increase their cell numbers during normal growth and in response to metabolic stress, and how they can be regenerated as a cellular therapy for diabetic patients. Dr. Tenneille Ludwig, PhD; Director, WiCell Stem Cell Bank Dr. Ludwig’s expertise is in optimizing human pluripotent cell culture conditions, focusing on media development and biobanking. She created the first defined, feeder-free culture system for human embryonic stem cells. Dr. Kim Jensen, PhD; Associate Professor, Danish Stem Cell Centre Dr. Jensen seeks to identify and characterize the regulatory mechanisms that control cell fate during development, homeostasis and diseases such as cancer. He focuses on the epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract. Sir John Gurdon, PhD, DSc, FRS; Distinguished Group Leader, University of Cambridge Sir John Gurdon was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work in nuclear transplantation and cloning. His research focuses on nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells by oocytes and eggs of amphibians. Dr. Daniel Besser, PhD; Managing Director, German Stem Cell Network Dr. Besser studies signal transduction mechanisms in pluripotency and reprogramming of human and mouse embryonic stem cells. At the German Stem Cell Network, he works on creating synergies between basic and applied stem cell research and fostering scientific communication and outreach. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Aug 20, 2019 · 1 hr 31 min
Episode 149: “From Academia to Industry” Featuring Dr. Steve Szilvassy
Guest: Dr. Steve Szilvassy is the Senior Director, Head of Hematopoietic Products at STEMCELL Technologies. He has over 25 years of experience in the fields of hematology and oncology, having held a variety of research positions, including research scientist and project team leader, in both academia and industry. Featured Products and Resources: Live Webinar: Optimized Workflows for High-Efficiency Genome Editing in Stem and Primary Cell Types Jobs at STEMCELL Technologies Resources and Links Blastocyst-Like Structures from Mouse Stem Cells – Researchers have generated 3D blastocyst-like structures from mouse PSCs that could be implanted into the uterus and grow before resorption. Making Old Brain Stem Cells Young – Investigators have found that increasing brain stiffness during aging leads to the dysfunction of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, but showed that the effects can be reversed. Stem Cell Combination Repairs Damaged Hearts – Heart muscle cells and epicardial cells derived from human ESCs were co-transplanted into rats with damaged hearts, generating grafts that had greater cell growth and that lived longer. Using CAR-T against HIV – Scientists have developed duoCAR-T cells that target multiple sites on the HIV envelope, and that were able to kill HIV cells while resisting infection themselves. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Szilvassy Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Aug 6, 2019 · 1 hr 37 min
Ep. 148: “Stem Cell Ethics” Featuring Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu
Guest: Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta cross-appointed to the Faculties of Law and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is interested in the ethical, legal and societal implications of novel and emerging biomedical research and health care technologies. Featured Products and Resources: Jobs at STEMCELL Technologies Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Updates and Debates Resources and Links Major ‘Don’t Eat Me’ Signal Found in Cancer Cells – Researchers have identified a protein whose signaling enables cancer cells to evade detection by the immune system, making it a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Smooth Muscle Cells Change Identity to Protect against Atherosclerosis – Investigators have found that smooth muscle cells modulate their phenotype during atherosclerosis to protect the arterial walls. Tracking Stem Cells in Skin – Scientists tracked stem cell division in the sebacious gland to understand the development and maintenance of the skin, and the effects of mutations on stem cell behavior. Reversing Sickle Cell Disease with CRISPR– CRISPR was used to edit HSCs in nonhuman primates to reverse the clinical symptoms of certain blood disorders. Modeling Monogenic Diabetes – The authors modeled monogenic diabetes using human ESCs to identify the role of the transcription factor that is mutated in the most common form of the disease. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jul 23, 2019 · 1 hr 23 min
Ep. 147: “Targeted Repair in Blood Stem and Progenitor Cells” Featuring Dr. Jennifer Adair
Guest: Dr. Jennifer Adair is an Assistant Member in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her lab uses a combination of cell biology, molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, nanomedicine and bioinformatics to develop new gene therapy treatments for many different diseases, including cancer. Her goal is to develop safe, cost-effective and clinically relevant applications for gene therapy that can be implemented worldwide. Featured Products and Resources: Science in Seattle StemSpan SFEM II Resources and Links Possible Drug Target for Heart Condition Identified – Researchers have found that a genetic mutation linked to dilated cardiomyopathy activates a signaling pathway that is normally turned off in healthy adult hearts. Fibrosis Target Identified – Investigators have identified a protease that is activated by TGFβ that contributes to fibrosis development. Improved Kidney Organoids – Scientists have developed a protocol for generating vascularized and functional human PSC-derived 3D kidney organoids, and used them to model disease. New Tool for Immune Monitoring using Mass Cytometry – A mass cytometry workflow has been developed for identifying major immune cell lineages to improve biomarker discovery in immunotherapy trials. Delayed Neurodevelopment in Zika-Exposed Children – In this prospective cohort study, the authors found that one third of children up to age three who were exposed to Zika in-utero had below-average neurological development. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Adair Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jul 9, 2019 · 1 hr 18 min
Ep. 146: “CRISPR-Based Modeling of Congenital Heart Disease in Patient iPSCs” Featuring Dr. Arun Sharma
Guest: Dr. Arun Sharma is a Senior Research Fellow in the Svendsen lab at Cedars-Sinai. His research focuses on the applications of iPSCs for studying cardiovascular biology, modeling diseases in a dish with genome editing technologies, and developing high-throughput platforms for screening drug toxicity and efficacy. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte Webinar: Modeling Arrhythmias Using hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Tracking Their Excitability Resources and Links Regeneration Potential of Neonatal Mouse Heart – Researchers have shown that the regeneration capacity of the neonatal mouse heart is limited, suggesting that the processes of embryonic heart development and postnatal heart generation are distinct. Guiding Human Development in a Dish– Scientists have developed a method for exposing human ESCs to gradients of key signaling molecules to mimic the early stages of embryonic development. Immune Cells Invade Aging Brains – Investigators have found that T cells invade the brain of aged mice and inhibit the proliferation of neural stem cells. Ethical Development of Stem-Cell Based Interventions – The authors address key ethical and policy challenges confronting the clinical translation of stem cell-based interventions. Dopamine Replacement Trial for Parkinson’s Disease – A clinical trial is underway to assess the efficacy of transplanting PSC-derived dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson’s disease patients. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Arun Sharma Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 25, 2019 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 145: “Cardiac Organoids” Featuring Dr. James Hudson
Guest: Dr. James Hudson is Group Leader of the Organoid Research Laboratory at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, whose research is focused on developing state-of-the-art bioengineering approaches for human 3D organoids to use for studying cardiac biology and discovering new heart disease therapeutics. Featured Products and Resources: STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte Webinar: Modeling Arrhythmias Using hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Tracking Their Excitability Resources and Links Stimulating Hair Growth – Investigators have demonstrated that quiescent hair follicles can be stimulated to grow by small molecules that activate autophagy. Organoid Model of Fibrotic Lung Disease – Researchers used ESC-derived 3D organoids to model fibrotic lung disease, and identified a possible pathogenic mechanism. Antibody Conditioning for HSC Transplants – A transplant of mismatched HSCs without immune suppression by chemotherapy or radiation was successful in mice by performing a conditioning treatment with six antibodies. Improving Pancreatic Islet Transplantation – Researchers have identified a protein that improves revascularization of pancreatic islet grafts, and is a potential target for enhancing transplant outcomes in type 1 diabetes. Reprogramming Scar Tissue into Heart Muscle – For the first time, scientists have developed a stable, reproducible, and minimilistic platform to reprogram human fibroblast cells into cardiomyocytes. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. James Hudson Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 11, 2019 · 1 hr 26 min
Ep 144: “Multiscale Map of Stem Cell State in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma” Featuring Dr. Tannishtha Reya
Guest: Dr. Tannishtha Reya is a Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Her lab focuses on understanding the signaling pathways that regulate the choice between stem cell renewal and commitment, and define how the same signals are subverted in cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Cancer Stem Cell News Dunn Webinar: Understanding Pancreatic Development and Diabetes Using Patient-Specific iPS Cells Resources and Links HIV-Preventing Gene Mutation Linked to Earlier Death – A variant of the CCR5 gene that protects against HIV infection, and that was infamously edited in babies using CRISPR, has been associated with an earlier death. Establishment of Expanded Potential Stem Cells – Investigators have generated pig and human expanded potential stem cells that have the features of the first cells in the developing embryo. Single Cell Trajectories of Cardiopharyngeal Fates – Scientists have mapped the development of heart lineages and identified the mechanisms dictating cardiopharyngeal fate choices. Improved Human Brain Organoids – Researchers have developed a new method of generating brain organoids with little developmental variability between the organoids. Stromal Cells Influence Pancreatic Cell Tumors – The stromal microenvironment has been shown to affect gene expression and shape tumor growth and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Tannishtha Reya Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
May 28, 2019 · 1 hr 7 min
Ep 143: “Cell Fate Decisions at Single-Cell Resolution” Featuring Dr. Bertie Göttgens
Guest: Dr. Bertie Göttgens is a Professor of Molecular Hematology at the University of Cambridge. His lab studies how transcription factor networks control the function of hematopoietic stem cells, and how mutations that perturb such networks cause leukemia. In this episode, he talks about his research and his groundbreaking paper that mapped mouse gastrulation and early organogenesis. Featured Products and Resources: mTeSR™ Plus #StemCellfie Contest Resources and Links New Neurons Form in Old Age, Even in People with Alzheimer’s – Researchers have shown that hippocampal neurons continue to form well into old age, as well as in individuals with mild cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease. Blocking an Inflammatory Protein Reverses Brain Aging – Blocking an inflammatory protein in brain cells reversed the effects of brain aging in old mice, and prevented signs of brain aging in young mice infused with old blood. New Mechanism Identified for Blood Stem Cell Development – Researchers have discovered a new role for the epidermal growth factor receptor in regulating hematopoietic stem cell development. Mapping the Bone Marrow Microenvironment – Investigators created a map of the stem cell niche in mouse bone marrow, and identified how it is influenced during healthy homeostasis and in leukemia. Non-Invasive Tool Tracks Efficacy of Transplanted Stem Cells – Exosomes isolated from blood are a potential non-invasive method for monitoring the activity of transplanted cardiac progenitor cells following a heart attack. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Bertie Göttgens Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
May 14, 2019 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep 142: “Beta-Cell Proliferation and Diabetes” Featuring Dr. Adrian Teo
Guest: Dr. Adrian Teo is a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. His research focuses on using stem cell technology to model human pancreatic development in vivo and to study the mechanisms that cause diabetes and underlie diabetic complications. Featured Products and Resources: Pancreatic Cell News Ray Dunn Webinar Resources and Links Advancing Cell Therapies for Diabetes – Researchers mapped stem cell-derived beta cell differentiation, and developed an improved process for purifying beta cells, which can be used to enhance cell therapies for diabetes. Essential Role of YAP in Liver Regeneration – YAP signaling, which activates the transcription of certain genes, has been shown to be necessary for the survival and regeneration of liver epithelial cells upon injury. Gene Therapy Repairs Heart Attack Damage in Pigs – Expression of a microRNA delivered by adeno-associated viral vectors stimulated cardiac repair in pig hearts following a heart attack. How Low Oxygen Affects the Premature Brain – Using 3D brain-region-specific organoids, research have identified certain brain cells that are susceptible to harm from exposure to oxygen deprivation during early development. Tumor-Initiating Cells Addicted to Methionine – Scientists have found that tumor-initiating cells are metabolically dependent on methionine, providing a potential therapeutic target. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Adrian Teo Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Apr 30, 2019 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep 141: “iPSC-Derived Myogenic Progenitors” Featuring Dr. Rita Perlingeiro
Guest: Dr. Rita Perlingeiro is the Lillehei Professor in Stem Cell and Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine at the Lillehei Heart Institute. Her lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling lineage-specific differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, and applying this information to generate tissue-specific stem/progenitor cells endowed with in vivo regenerative potential. Much of her work is focused on muscular dystrophies. Featured Products and Resources: Muscle Cell News MyoCult™ Resources and Links New CAR T-Cell Therapy Less Toxic – A Phase I clinical trial has shown that a redesigned CAR T-cell molecule was less toxic and produced fewer side effects in patients, making the treatment safer. Using MSCs to Engineer an HSC Niche – Researchers have identified genes in mesenchymal stem cells that enhanced the production of niche factors that could maintain hematopoietic stem cells in culture. Generating Ovarian Cancer Organoids – Investigators developed a protocol for generating and expanding ovarian cancer organoids, and demonstrated their potential applications. Stress-Resistant Muscle Stem Cells – Scientists have identified a population of muscle stem cells that resist radiation and are able to expand under severe stress. Muscle Stem Cells Protected from Environmental Stress – The expression of a transcription factor has been shown to protect muscle stem cells against environmental stress caused by a toxic pollutant. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Rita Perlingeiro Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Apr 16, 2019 · 1 hr 15 min
Ep 140: “Blood Vessel Engineering” Featuring Dr. Josef Penninger
Guest: Dr. Josef Penninger is the Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia and a Canada 150 Chair in Functional Genetics. He was previously the Scientific and Founding Director of the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research is focused on understanding the complex mechanisms of how diseases develop, particularly in cardiovascular, autoimmune and bone diseases, and cancers. Featured Products and Resources: Science in the City – Vancouver EC-Cult™ Resources and Links Shutting Down Glioblastoma at its Earliest Moments – By performing cell-by-cell genetic analyses of developing brain tissues in neonatal mice and laboratory models of brain cancer, scientists have identified a molecular driver of glioblastoma. The Bone Marrow Microenvironment at Single-Cell Resolution – Researchers have mapped the transcriptional landscape of mouse bone marrow cell populations, both at homeostasis and under conditions of stress-induced hematopoiesis. Exploring the Mouse Gut Endoderm at Single Cell Resolution – Investigators have shown that throughout embryogenesis endoderm cells acquire a transcriptional identity that reflects their future fate and spatial positioning. Specification of Positional Identity in the Forebain – Scientists have grown topographically organized human forebrain organoids using engineered signaling centers. The Developmental Origin and Lifespan of Osteoclasts – Researchers have identified the developmental origin of osteoclasts and a mechanism that controls their maintenance in bones after birth. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Josef Penninger Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Apr 2, 2019 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep 139: “In Vitro Models of Schizophrenia” Featuring Dr. Kristen Brennand
Guest: Dr. Kristen Brennand is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomics, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. A major focus of her work is in developing in vitro models for schizophrenia in order to identify novel insights into the molecular and cellular phenotypes of mental illness. Her lab has established a new mechanism using iPSC-based models to systematically test the impact of causal variants in human cells. Featured Resource: Subscribe to Neural Cell News Dr. Kristen Brennand Webinar: Using hiPSCs to Study Genetic Variants Linked to Schizophrenia Resources and Links Testicular Graft Produces Sperm and Live Offspring – Primates that had prepubertal testicular tissue removed, frozen, and grafted back later in life were able to produce sperm and offspring. Using Cardiac Organoids for Drug Screening – Cardiac organoids were used to identify pro-regenerative drugs without detrimental side effects on cardiac function. A Common Embryonic Origin of Neural Progenitors – Investigators have found that in mice, a single population of neural progenitors contributes to lifelong neurogenesis in the hippocampus. New Brain Cells Made throughout Life – Scientists have shown that humans can make new brain cells into their nineties, but this production progressively declines in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Using Phenotypes to Identify Schizophrenia Genes – Researchers have developed a phenotypic atlas of schizophrenia-associated genes, and identified 30 genes for further study. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kristen Brennand Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Mar 19, 2019 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep. 138: “Cell-Based Therapies in Late-Stage Clinical Trial” Featuring Dr. Robert Mays
Guest: Dr. Robert Mays is the Co-founder and Vice President of Regenerative Medicine and Head of Neuroscience Programs at Athersys Inc. He focuses on Athersys’ proprietary stem cell product, MultiStem®, and its applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery, with a specific focus on injuries and diseases affecting the central nervous system. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Cytokines Resources and Links New Drug Developed to Treat Heart Attack Damage – Using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, scientists have developed a new drug that minimizes cardiomyocyte death following a heart attack. Enhancing iPSC Immune Compatibility – Researchers used CRISPR to make immunocompatible donor iPSCs that could increase iPSC-based regenerative medicine applications. Kidney Organoids Created from Urine – Researchers have generated kidney tubular epithelial organoids from both kidney tissue and urine cells, which can be used for personalized disease modeling. Modeling Developmental Disorder with Brain Organoids – Cerebral organoids were used to model the developmental disorder neuronal heterotopia, providing insight into the mechanisms causing impaired neuronal migration. Cancer-Specific Inhibitor Identified – Researchers have identified a cancer-specific inhibitor that targets the metabolic needs of cancer cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Robert Mays Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Mar 5, 2019 · 57 min
Ep. 137: “Hematopoiesis and Cardiovascular Disease” Featuring Dr. Andrew Murphy
Guest: Dr. Andrew Murphy is an Associate Professor at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He seeks to understand the processes by which hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow niche become affected in disease, specifically in the context of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Hematopoiesis Hub Resources and Links Quiescence Increases the Resistance and Function of Old Neural Stem Cells – Increased quiescence makes aged neural stem cells resistant to regeneration. But, if activation is enforced, both young and old NSCs show similar proliferation and differentiation capacity. A Gliogenic Switch for Human Astrocytes – Researchers have developed a new method to rapidly differentiate astrocytes from PSC-derived neural stem cells using a protein switch. Generating Thalamic Organoids – Researchers have created thalamic organoids and fused them together with an organoid of the frontal cortex to study brain development and disease. CRISPR Therapy for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (Article 1)(Article 2) – Two separate research groups have used CRISPR to suppress the accelerated aging observed in mice with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. CRISPR Makes iPSCs Invisible to the Immune System – Using CRISPR, scientists have created iPSCs that evade the immune system and prevent transplant rejection, poising them as a “universal” donor stem cell. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Andrew Murphy Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Feb 19, 2019 · 1 hr 18 min
Ep. 136: “HSC Trafficking” Featuring Dr. Paul Frenette
Guest: Dr. Paul Frenette is the Chair and Director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Frenette’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular constitutents of the stem cell niche, mechanisms of sickle cell vaso-occlusion, the role of the nervous system in cancer, and understanding how hematopoietic stem cells and mature blood cells traffic in vivo. Featured Resource: STEMvision™ Resources and Links An Improved Approach for Generating Kidney Organoids – Researchers have developed a new in vitro method for generating vascularized, mature kidney organoids by exposing them to fluidic shear stress. Functional Insulin-Producing Cells Grown in Lab – For the first time, mature insulin-producing cells have been developed from stem cells. Reprogramming Pancreatic Cells to Treat Diabetes – Scientists have reprogrammed pancreatic α-cells into insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells that were able to reverse diabetes in mice. A Bioengineered Factory for T Cells – Researchers have developed an injectable bone marrow-like scaffold that enhances T cell development following a bone marrow transplant. Sleep Protects against Heart Disease – By subjecting mice to chronic sleep fragmentation, researchers have discovered a neuro-immune axis that links sleep to hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Frenette Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe