Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide autologous materials for patients, which theoretically omit the need for immune suppression. We have optimized the more clinically relevant, integration-free hiPSC generation protocol and performed directed differentiation of patient-specific iPSCs into neural stem cells, neuronal and glial progenitors, as well as mature cell types for disease modeling, transplantation studies, neural regeneration and repair, and drug screening and testing. The highly efficient CRISPR gene editing tool adapted in the lab allows for quick creation of neural lineage reporters and multigene activation for lineage induction. These neural lineage specific cells are applied to in-depth study of signal transduction in disease and development. Our research projects include (1) generation of clinically relevant iPSCs for therapeutics uses; (2) identification of optimal neural lineage progenitors for cell-based therapy in spinal cord injury; (3) Down syndrome disease modeling using patient derived iPSCs and neural populations; and (4) molecular changes in gene expression regulatory networks in glioblastoma.
