The Stem Cell Podcast

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

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

357 episodes
Updated July 21

Episodes357

Newest first

Oct 31, 2023 · 1 hr 16 min
Ep. 254: “Muscle Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Helen Blau
Guest: Dr. Helen Blau is the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Professor and Director of the Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology at Stanford University. Dr. Blau’s research focuses on the basic molecular mechanisms of stem cells and muscle and their application to aging, regenerative medicine, and disease. Her lab aims to understand and apply biology to improve quality of life, and their current primary focus is on understanding the gerozyme 15-PGDH. She talks about the roles of NSAIDs and CD47 in muscle regeneration. She also discusses growing cultured meat and writing a children’s book! Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in muscle cell news. STEMCELL Technologies’ human MyoCult™ workflow supports your muscle research from start to finish, allowing you to derive, expand, and differentiate human skeletal muscle progenitors. The Stem Cell Science Round Up The First Vertebrate Heartbeats – Using all-optical electrophysiology, researchers captured the very first heartbeat of a zebrafish. Axolotl Limb Regeneration – Senescent cells comprise a pro-regenerative niche during axolotl limb regrowth. Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Genes – Scientists engineered isogenic knockout human embryonic stem cell lines for 20 genes associated with type 2 diabetes risk. Skull-Brain Communication in Craniosynostosis – Impaired meningeal lymphatics and brain perfusion drive neurocognitive defects in an animal model of craniosynostosis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Helen Blau Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Oct 17, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
Ep. 253: “Heart Failure Genes” Featuring Dr. Roger Foo
Guest: Dr. Roger Foo is the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Professor of Medicine and Head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. His lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac biology and disease. He talks about the genetics of heart disease and the roles of circular RNAs. Featured Products and Resources: Register for a live podcast recording with BlueRock Therapeutics in New York! STEMdiff™ Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Differentiation Kit The Stem Cell Science Round Up Kidney Xenotransplantation – Researchers used kidneys from a genetically engineered porcine donor to explore kidney graft transplantation in monkeys. Parkinson’s Disease Cell Therapy – A cryopreserved dopamine progenitor cell product derived from hESCs was tested in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease and a first-in-human clinical trial was approved. CRISPR Screening for Knee Regeneration – Scientists performed genome-wide CRISPR activation screening using a model of progeroid syndrome and identified rejuvenating factors. Cell Therapy for Epilepsy – Researchers developed and characterized a cell therapy alternative for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Roger Foo Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Oct 3, 2023 · 1 hr 24 min
Ep. 252: “Organ-on-a-Chip” Featuring Dr. Bas Trietsch
Guest: Dr. Bas Trietsch is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at Mimetas, a company working to contribute to groundbreaking therapies with their screenable, physiologically relevant 3D human disease models. He talks about tissue-relevant models for drug discovery, and how organ-on-a-chip technology can help address scalability and reproducibility. Featured Products and Resources: Register for a live show in New York to discuss BlueRock Therapeutics’ stem cell-derived investigational cell therapy designed to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease. Learn about organoid culture from the experts at STEMCELL. The Stem Cell Science Round Up CRISPR Screens for Neurodevelopment Genes – Researchers integrated cortical assembloids with CRISPR screening to investigate genes implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Metabolic Reprogramming for Heart Regeneration – Inhibiting fatty acid oxidation in cardiomyocytes stimulates cardiac regeneration in mice. iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte and Endothelial Cell Transplants – hiPSC-derived endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes significantly enhanced graft size and vasculature and improved cardiac function after ischemic reperfusion in non-human primates. A Bioengineered Trachea-Like Structure – A trachea-like structure composed of cartilage rings and fiber-hydrogel rings boosted survival after transplant into rabbits with a tracheal defect. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Mimetas Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 19, 2023 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep. 251: “Post-Implantation Blastoids” Featuring Drs. Thorold Theunissen and Rowan Karvas
Guest: Dr. Thorold Theunissen is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology at Washington University in St. Louis investigating the molecular basis of pluripotency, the mechanisms of trophoblast development, and the generation of stem cell-based embryo models. Dr. Rowan Karvas is a CRM Fellow in Regenerative Medicine working in the Theunissen lab. They talk about their recent work developing 3D-cultured blastoids and how they could be used to study pregnancy-related diseases and infertility. Featured Products and Resources: Take your human pluripotent stem cell cultures further with mTESR™ Plus. Save time and keep current with ESC & iPSC News from STEMCELL Science News. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Lab-Grown Human Embryos – Researchers have created structured stem cell-based embryo models and have grown them outside the womb for 14 days post-fertilization. A Human Model for Autism – Scientists have developed a single-cell brain organoid screen to identify developmental defects in autism. Semi-Human Kidneys in Pigs – Researchers have successfully grown kidneys containing human cells in pig embryos. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Thorold Theunissen and Rowan Karvas. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Sep 5, 2023 · 1 hr 36 min
Ep. 250: “Blastoid Development and Implantation” Featuring Dr. Nicolas Rivron
Guest: Dr. Nicolas Rivron is a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. His group recreates embryonic development using mammalian stem cells in a dish to better understand the encoded principles of self-organization. He talks about building human blastoid models and using them to study implantation. He also discusses differences in development between mice and humans, trophectoderm stem cells, and an ethical framework for embryo models. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in ESC and iPSC news. Download a free e-book on organoid research The Stem Cell Science Round Up Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease – A Phase I trial showed safety, tolerability, and an improvement in dyskinesia symptoms. CRISPR for Sickle Cell Disease – CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of the HBG1 and HBG2 gene promoters was an effective strategy for induction of fetal hemoglobin. Towards a Universal CAR T Cell Therapy for Blood Cancers – Epitope-edited CAR T cells were effective against patient-derived acute myeloid leukemia, B cell lymphoma, and acute T cell leukemia. Transient-Naive-Treatment Reprogramming – A new reprogramming strategy produces hiPSCs with similar epigenetic and functional profiles to human embryonic stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Nicolas Rivron Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Aug 22, 2023 · 1 hr
Ep. 249: “Live at NYSCF: Overcoming Obstacles in Stem Cell Research” Featuring Drs. Laura Andres-Martin, Daniel Paull, and Raeka Aiyar
Guests: Dr. Laura Andres-Martin is a Research Investigator, Oncology, Dr. Daniel Paul is the Senior VP, Discovery & Platform Development, and Dr. Raeka Aiyar is the VP, Scientific & DEIB Outreach at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF). This episode was recorded live and in-person at the NYSCF Research Institute. The panelists talk about NYSCF’s approach to automation, their women’s reproductive cancer initiative, and promoting inclusion and belonging in science. They also talk about Founder Susan Solomon’s legacy and future plans to break down barriers in stem cell research. Photo Reference: Courtesy of NYSCF Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Aug 8, 2023 · 1 hr 14 min
Ep. 248: “Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering” Featuring Dr. Nathaniel Huebsch
Guest: Dr. Nathaniel Huebsch is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. His lab focuses on understanding how mechanical cues originating at cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts influence signaling and fate. They are especially interested in how those cues affect heart development and disease. He talks about cardiac models and cardiomyocyte maturity. Featured Products and Resources: Use STEMCELL’s STEMdiff Cardiomyocyte media and supplements to differentiate, enrich, expand, and cryopreserve functional hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Explore STEMCELL’s Organoid Information Hub. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Modeling Early Development – Peri-gastruloids model human post-implantation development into early organogenesis. Fatty Acid Synthesis in Endoderm Differentiation – Researchers identified a fatty acid synthesis/oxidation shift during early differentiation. Editing HSCs In Vivo – Scientists designed a strategy to reprogram bone marrow stem cells directly within the body without the need for donor cells or the use of potentially toxic conditioning regimens. T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors – Gavo-cel is an engineered T cell therapy tested in patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jul 25, 2023 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 247: “Neurological Disorders” Featuring Dr. Thomas Durcan
Guest: Dr. Thomas Durcan is an Associate Professor and Director of the Early Drug Discovery Unit at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He oversees a team of 40+ research staff and students, committed to applying patient-derived stem cells towards the development of phenotypic discovery assays and 3D neuronal organoid models for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. He talks about modeling sporadic ALS in a dish, partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and promoting open science. Featured Products and Resources: See the Stem Cell Podcast live at the New York Stem Cell Foundation! Learn about the STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit from STEMCELL Technologies The Stem Cell Science Round Up SARS-CoV-2 in the Placenta – Researchers developed induced trophoblast stem cell models to study placental models of infection. Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in the Embryo – Loss of microRNA-128 in zebrafish leads to an expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the aorta–gonad–mesonephros. Cochlear Organoids – Derived hair cells exhibit cochlear-like structural and functional properties. Cell Replacement in a Chimeric Mouse Brain – Old or diseased human glial cells in the chimeric mouse brain are eliminated by transplanted young cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Thomas Durcan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jul 11, 2023 · 41 min
ISSCR 2023: On the Ground
In June 2023, we attended ISSCR 2023, the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, in Boston. We spoke with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting, including their reasons for attending, what they were most looking forward to, and the most memorable research presented. Featured Products and Resources: Register for a live, in-person podcast recording at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute. Prepare for your next conference. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 27, 2023 · 1 hr 18 min
Ep. 245: “Cellular Diversity” Featuring Dr. Thomas Zwaka
Guest: Dr. Thomas Zwaka is the Director of the Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson’s Disease and a Professor of Regenerative and Developmental Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on fundamental questions surrounding stem cell biology, including how to reverse the process of differentiation and “re-program” any given cell type into a pluripotent stem cell. He talks about his lab’s work using bat iPSCs to study viruses. Featured Products and Resources: Save time and keep current with ESC & iPSC News. Explore ways to assess your hPSCs and learn about essential qualities and attributes to consider for gene editing, disease modeling, and maintenance. The Stem Cell Science Round Up A New Base Editing Technology – Scientists have developed a novel adenine transversion editor capable of efficient A·T-to-C·G base editing. Exploring Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – Researchers investigated the genotype-phenotype relationship in siblings with a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A Preclinical Model for Parkinson’s Disease – A new optogenetic method induces α-syn aggregates in Parkinson’s disease neurons and organoids. A Stem Cell Zoo – Scientists have recapitulated the segmentation clock of six mammals using PSCs. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Thomas Zwaka Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 18, 2023 · 37 min
ISSCR 2023: Day 4
Guest: In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the final day of the meeting. In this episode, they discuss some of the research presented during Concurrent Track E, as well as Plenary V and VI, which were focused on modeling development and disease and clinical applications, respectively. Lastly, they discuss their experience meeting and recording podcast episodes with delegates from the meeting. Featured Products and Resources: Explore resources to find out how you can access and maintain high-quality hPSC cultures. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 17, 2023 · 30 min
ISSCR 2023: Day 3
Guest: In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the third day of the meeting. In this episode, they discuss the research presented throughout Concurrent Tracks C & D, as well as some of the meeting drama that resulted. They also highlight Plenary IV, which was focused on niche regulation of differentiation and regeneration, and discuss the podcast’s Meet Up Hub event, giving a shout-out to some of the attendees that dropped by. Featured Products and Resources: Watch Dr. Andrew Gaffney and Erin Knock discuss the generation of a standardized iPSC line. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 16, 2023 · 36 min
ISSCR 2023: Day 2
Guest: In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the second day of the meeting. In this episode, they discuss Concurrent Tracks A & B and highlight some of the research on epigenetic regulation of distinct cell states presented during Plenary III. Featured Products and Resources: Explore free, self-paced, online training courses to move your research forward. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 15, 2023 · 21 min
ISSCR 2023: Day 1
Guest: In June 2023, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the first day of the meeting. In this episode, they discuss the pre-meeting workshops, including Arun’s own talk on stem cell research in space, as well as highlights from the morning’s focus sessions and innovation showcases. They also dive into the Presidential Symposium and the new technologies presented in Plenary II. Featured Products and Resources: Explore STEMCELL’s on-demand webinars. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Jun 13, 2023 · 1 hr
Ep. 244: “The Mammalian Lung” Featuring Dr. Emma Rawlins
Guest: Dr. Emma Rawlins is a Senior Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute in the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. She talks about modeling fetal lung development using organoids, using single-cell RNA sequencing to create a human lung fetal atlas, and her advice to trainees to follow their hearts. Featured Products and Resources: Register for the ISSCR 2023 annual meeting Model the human respiratory system in vivo using PneumaCult™ The Stem Cell Science Round Up In Vivo Reprogramming of Astrocytes into Neurons – Researchers refute that Ptbpt1 deletion induces astrocyte-to-neuron conversion. A Parkinson’s Drug for ALS – Clinical trial results show that the Parkinson’s disease drug ropinirole delays ALS progression. Establishment of the Adult Blood System – Researchers identified miR-223 as a negative regulator of murine hemogenic endothelial cell specification and myelopoiesis. Modeling Preneoplasia in Gastric Organoids – Gastric organoids with inactivated TP53, a common early event in gastric cancer, were created to model the earliest events in human tumor initiation. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Emma Rawlins. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
May 30, 2023 · 1 hr 15 min
Ep. 243: “Ethics and Policy” Featuring Dr. Insoo Hyun
Guest: Dr. Insoo Hyun is the Director of the Center for Life Sciences and Public Learning at the Museum of Science in Boston, and a Member of the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics. He talks about embryo models for early development, his work on the ISSCR’s guidelines for stem cell research, and advances in reproductive medicine. Featured Products and Resources: Meet the hosts of the Stem Cell Podcast at ISSCR 2023! Explore career opportunities at STEMCELL. The Stem Cell Science Round Up A New Small Molecule for Neuroregeneration – Scientists identified a PI3Kα activator that induces cell proliferation, provides cardioprotection, and stimulates nerve regeneration. Zebrafish Heart Regeneration – Researchers used ex vivo imaging to visualize intracellular calcium dynamics in the regenerating zebrafish heart. Signaling Pathways and Cell Fate – Scientists used optogenetics to study how ERK and AKT dynamics affect mouse embryonic stem cell fates. Milk and Cardiomyocyte Maturation – Maternal milk provides an essential signal that triggers the maturation of heart metabolism after birth. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Insoo Hyun Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
May 16, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 242: “Spinal Cord Injury” Featuring Dr. Aileen Anderson
Guest: Dr. Aileen Anderson is the Director of the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine. Her lab investigates the role of inflammatory mechanisms in degeneration and regeneration in the injured central nervous system. She talks about cell therapy for spinal cord injury and how academic labs can collaborate with companies to move toward the clinic. She also discusses biomaterials to support axon regeneration. Featured Products and Resources: ISSCR 2023 is almost here! Explore STEMCELL Technologies’ collection of technical videos and webinars on neurological disease modeling. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Hypoimmune iPSCs in Non-Human Primates – Scientists validated a genetic method to block immune rejection of allogeneic cells in monkeys. Digital Retinal Organoids – A multimodal atlas of retinal organoid development shows spatial interactions over time. Skin Vascular Maturation – Researchers tracked neonatal endothelial cells to study how vasculature matures and maintains homeostasis in live mice. Bovine Blastoids – Scientists generated bovine blastocyst-like structures by assembling bovine trophoblast stem cells and expanded potential stem cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Aileen Anderson Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
May 2, 2023 · 1 hr 21 min
Ep. 241: “The Biology of HSCs” Featuring Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman
Guest: Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman is a Principal Investigator and Member at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her lab focuses on the fundamental biology of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). She talks about the role of HSCs in sickle cell disease and the state of HSC transplantation research. She also discusses her work on hematopoietic progenitor expansion. Featured Products and Resources: Attend ISSCR 2023 in Boston! Find educational resources to help you further your research on hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies. The Stem Cell Science Round Up De-Differentiation to Prevent Grey Hair – Scientists identified a new model whereby dedifferentiation is integral to homeostatic stem cell maintenance. Seeing Stem Cell Variants – Researchers used single-cell cloning technologies to generate libraries of basal stem cells from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and control lungs. How Exercise Rejuvenates Stem Cells – Exercise increases Osteopontin expression in muscle and improves muscle regeneration. Distal Memory in Wound Healing – Cell adaptation resulting from localized tissue damage has a wide spatial impact. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Apr 18, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
Ep. 240: “The Human Brain” Featuring Dr. Sergiu Pașca
Guest: Dr. Sergiu Pașca is the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and the Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program. His lab has pioneered and applied neural organoid and assembloid technologies to make discoveries in fundamental and clinical neuroscience. He talks about the response to his viral TED Talk and the importance of names for nervous system models. He also discusses CRISPR screening in assembloids to study autism, transplanting cortical organoids into rats, and biocompatible polymers for neural organoids. Featured Products and Resources: Register for ISSCR 2023! Submit your best cell image to the #StemCellfie contest. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Monkey Blastoids – Scientists generated monkey blastoids from ESCs and transferred them into surrogates to trigger pregnancies. Clonal Hematopoiesis and Chronic Liver Disease – Researchers used whole-exome sequencing data to study the association between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and chronic liver disease. Cardiomyocyte Cell Therapy – Gene editing prevents arrhythmias from cell-based therapy for myocardial infarction. Islet Transplantation Without Immunosuppression – Scientists used CRISPR to edit primary human pancreatic islet cells, making them immune-evasive. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Sergiu Pașca Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe
Apr 4, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep. 239: “Academic Publishing” Featuring Dr. Stylianos Lefkopoulos
Guest: Dr. Stylianos Lefkopoulos is an Associate Editor of Nature Cell Biology. He talks about a day in the life of an editor and what he looks for in a manuscript. He also discusses the role of preprints in publishing and promoting diversity in STEM. Featured Products and Resources: Register for ISSCR 2023, taking place in Boston June 14-17. Submit your best cell image to the #StemCellfie contest! The Stem Cell Science Round Up Chemical Reprogramming – Researchers developed a reproducible and efficient protocol to generate human chemically induced pluripotent stem cells. Base Editing to Treat SCID – T cell generation was restored through adenine base editing in cell, organoid, and mouse models of CD3δ severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Trophoplast Differentiation – Scientists generated a single-cell atlas of the entire maternal–fetal interface. Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Human Embryos During Organogenesis – Researchers used single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to provide a global view of human embryonic cell-type specification. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stylianos Lefkopoulos Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe