The Stem Cell Podcast

Ep. 68: “Gene Editing and Stem Cells” Featuring Dr. Danwei Huangfu

Jun 21, 2016
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Danwei Huangfu, a stem cell researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering, delves into her groundbreaking work on gene editing and human development. She explains how her team utilizes CRISPR technology to manipulate human pluripotent stem cells to induce pancreatic beta cells, which could advance diabetes treatment. Danwei highlights the limitations of mouse models compared to human stem cells and the exciting prospects of immune engineering for cell therapy. Her insights into CRISPR screens showcase revolutionary paths for future research.
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INSIGHT

Human PSCs Bridge Mouse-Human Gaps

  • Genome editing in human pluripotent stem cells bridges species gaps between mouse models and human development.
  • Danwei Huangfu uses edited hPSCs to reveal human-specific developmental mechanisms relevant to disease.
ADVICE

Model Disease With Isogenic Edits

  • Use genome editing to introduce or correct specific mutations for precise disease modeling in hPSCs.
  • Compare isogenic edited lines to isolate effects of single genetic changes on development or metabolism.
INSIGHT

Systematic Knockouts Map Developmental Failures

  • Systematic multi-gene knockouts reveal roles of transcription factors in human pancreatic development.
  • Danwei Huangfu's lab scaled CRISPR editing to probe many lineage determinants and map when differentiation fails.
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