The Stem Cell Podcast

Ep. 69: “Politics, Parkinson’s and More” Featuring Dr. Raj Kittappa

Jul 5, 2016
Dr. Raj Kittappa is a PhD-trained stem cell biologist and former political candidate focused on Parkinson's disease research. He shares insights on how midbrain dopaminergic neurons develop, emphasizing the roles of SHH, Wnt, and FOXA2. Raja also discusses his journey from lab work to politics, driven by a desire to influence research funding and policy. He highlights the need for scientists in politics to advocate for responsible regulatory practices like the REGROW Act, balancing rapid progress with safety in regenerative therapies.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Lab Beginnings At 14 Shaped Career

  • Raja recounted early lab experiences starting restriction digests at age 14 and writing a junior thesis on cyclin regulation at Penn.
  • Those formative projects shifted his interest toward developmental molecular biology and regeneration.
ANECDOTE

Allergy Redirected A Research Path

  • Raja described joining Princeton for drosophila work but discovering he was allergic to fruit flies and pivoting toward newt and zebrafish research.
  • That practical setback led him to regenerative limb studies and many cloned genes from newt screens.
INSIGHT

Floor Plate Produces Dopamine Neurons

  • Raja's work showed midbrain dopamine neurons originate in the floor plate, a region previously thought non-neurogenic.
  • He identified FOXA2 and SHH/Wnt signaling as keys for dopamine neuron development and later degeneration models.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app