The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: Dr. Sumru Bayin is a Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge. She talks about her work on regeneration in the neonatal mouse cerebellum and how cerebellar interneurons differentiate. She also discusses organizing a workshop to facilitate collaborations in regenerative biology, and her memories of the late Sir John Gurdon. (40:30) Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in neural cell news. STEMdiff™ Neural Crest Differentiation Kit The Stem Cell Science Round Up Heart-Macrophage Assembloids – Human heart–macrophage assembloids enable the study of immune–cardiac interactions and the modeling of arrhythmias. (1:41) Human Nucleus Basalis Organoids – Human nucleus basalis of Meynert organoids can fuse with human cortical organoids and are used to model neurodevelopmental disorders. (11:15) A Brain Organoid Atlas – Scientists used iPSCs from patients with neurodevelopmental disorders to generate a brain organoid atlas. (20:19) Human Cortex Development – Lineage tracing in human tissue samples provides insight into lineage relationships between cortical cell types. (28:03) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Juan Melero-Martin is an Associate Professor and the Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. His lab uses bioengineering principles to understand how vascular networks are formed and the mechanisms by which the vasculature modulates the engraftment and activity of various human stem cells. (42:03) Featured Products and Resources: Save time and stay current with ESC & iPSC News. Learn experimental procedures and laboratory techniques for life science research The Stem Cell Science Round Up Chromosomal Genes Linked to Heart Disease – Scientists identified HMGN1, a nuclear binding protein, as a key contributor to trisomy 21-related congenital heart defects. (1:46) Questioning Common Technique for Assessing IVF Embryos  – Live imaging of late-stage preimplantation human embryos suggests that abnormalities can arise at a later stage of development than previously thought. (14:14) Vitamin C Protects Ovaries – Scientists have shown that oral vitamin C protects against ovarian aging in primates. (24:07) Multi-Branching Cell Differentiation Trajectories – A new Hodge Laplacian model has advanced single-cell multimodal data analysis by providing highly reliable results for complex multi-branching trajectories. (33:58) Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Juan Melero-Martin. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Carole LaBonne is the Erastus Otis Haven Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University. Her lab studies the genesis of neural crest stem cells at the level of the signaling pathways and transcription factors that comprise the neural crest gene regulatory network. They also study how these mechanisms contribute to exit from pluripotency and the subsequent lineage restriction of neural crest cells to their derivative cell types that collectively define vertebrates. (39:45) Featured Products and Resources: Save time and stay current with ESC & iPSC News. Generate high-purity neural crest precursors from hPSCs with the STEMdiff Neural Crest Differentiation Kit. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Creating Modified Cows and Sheep from Haploid Stem Cells – Scientists have successfully derived haploid androgenetic ESCs from cattle and sheep, and have developed a novel method to generate offspring from these cells. (4:33) Embryonic Stem Cells from Birds – Researchers have succeeded in deriving and maintaining authentic ESCs from chickens and seven other bird species. (13:48) Mutation Hotspots Reveal Spermatogonia Clonal Growth – As men age, harmful genetic mutations in sperm not only accumulate but are also favored during sperm production, giving them a reproductive advantage. (20:35) Canine iPSC Technology – Researchers have established culture conditions for canine iPSCs. (31:10) Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Carole LaBonne Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. Paul Tesar, Director of the Institute for Glial Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, dives into his research on oligodendrocyte maturation and environmental chemicals that hinder glial development. He discusses the importance of mentorship in shaping future scientists and the creation of Convelo, a company aimed at translating lab discoveries into therapies. Tesar also shares insights on balancing high-throughput screens to foster innovation, all while emphasizing his dedication to the community and collaborative opportunities at his institution.

Dr. Lars Velten, a Group Leader at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, delves into intriguing research on gene regulation and hematopoiesis. He discusses the role of cell-state-specific enhancers and innovative lineage tracing techniques that reveal insights into blood aging. Velten also explores the integration of generative AI with traditional lab methods, emphasizing the importance of taking risks in basic research. Plus, he shares his perspective on the potential applications of his work beyond hematopoiesis.

Dr. Alice Soragni, an Associate Professor at UCLA, delves into her groundbreaking research on patient-derived organoids and their potential in drug screening. She shares insights on her transition from structural biology to focus on protein aggregation in rare diseases. The discussion also touches on innovative advancements in organoid technology for personalized cancer treatment and the role of social media in enhancing scientific communication. Soragni highlights the importance of collaboration in driving impactful research.

Discover the fascinating world of kidney organoids and their potential in regenerative medicine. Dr. Zhongwei Li sheds light on nephron progenitor cells and drug discovery for polycystic kidney disease. The podcast delves into innovative embryo models developed from pluripotent stem cells without transgenes, revolutionizing our understanding of early development. Explore groundbreaking hypoimmune CAR T cell therapies that promise to change cancer treatment and learn about efforts to reconstruct pancreatic islet organoids for diabetes management.

Dr. Mark Hatley, a leading researcher in pediatric oncology from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, dives deep into the genetic underpinnings of childhood cancers such as rhabdomyosarcoma. He unpacks how the PAX3-FOXO1 and DICER1 genes contribute to tumor formation. The discussion highlights the critical shift from animal models to human systems in cancer research, providing fresh insights into potential treatments. Hatley emphasizes the importance of understanding developmental biology to uncover innovative strategies for combating pediatric cancer.

Dr. Jeanne Loring, Co-founder of Aspen Neuroscience and Professor Emeritus at Scripps Research, shares fascinating insights from her work on autologous cell therapies. She discusses innovative methods for generating gametes from the endangered northern white rhinoceros and the recent successes in Parkinson's disease trials. Loring unveils her project sending stem cells into space, exploring microgravity's effects on neuroscience. She emphasizes the vital need for genetic diversity in iPSC lines and the ethical considerations in stem cell research.

Dr. James Briscoe, a Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute and Editor-In-Chief of Development, dives into spinal cord development. He shares insights on the molecular mechanisms that fuel embryonic research, highlighting the role of neural organoids in simulating human trunk formation. The conversation also touches on advances in RNA sequencing and the development of vascular organoids for studying diseases. Briscoe emphasizes the importance of collaborative research and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing.