Guest: Dr. Carla Kim is a Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Pulmonary Respiratory Diseases at Children’s Hospital Boston, as well as in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and in the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Her research involves characterizing the biology of stem cells in the normal lung and in lung cancer using a combination of mouse genetics, cell biology and genomics approaches. Her lab has also developed 3D lung organoid systems that makes it possible to derive specialized lung cells from lung stem cells and interrogate the crosstalk between specialized cell types in the healthy and diseased lung. Resources and Links Human Blood Cells Can Be Directly Reprogrammed into Neural Stem Cells - Researchers have established an approach for direct differentiation of somatic cells into expandable neural progenitor cells. Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Stop Seizures and Improve Cognitive Function - Transplantation of hiPSC-derived neural cells into the hippocampus of rats who have experienced prolonged seizures can greatly reduce the frequency of spontaneous recurrent seizures. How Sperm Stem Cells Maintain Their Number – Sperm stem cell numbers are achieved through competition for a limited supply of self-renewal-promoting fibroblast growth factors. Researchers Discover Control Mechanism for Melanoma Skin Cancer - Tissue-resident memory T cells control the growth of melanomas in mice for the life of the animal, which likely equates to decades of protection in humans. Age-Related Remodelling of Oesophageal Epithelia by Mutated Cancer Drivers - Researchers find that alcohol consumption and smoking substantially accelerate mutations in cancer driver genes with age. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Carla Kim Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Millman is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the in vitro production and study of pancreatic insulin-producing β cells from human pluripotent stem cells for use in cellular replacement therapy and drug screening. He joins us to discuss his research. Resources and Links Efficient Scarless Genome Editing in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells - Researchers have established a new method for generating 'scarless' genetic changes in human pluripotent stem cells that do not leave selection markers. Platelets Grown from Stem Cells May be Alternative to Donated Platelets - Platelets generated from adipose-derived stromal stem cells could provide an alternative to donated platelets, which are in short supply and can cause infection in the recipient. Tackling Treatment-Resistant Cancer – Researchers have found an epigenetic mechanism that cancer cells use to overcome drug treatment. Honey Bee Protein Keeps Stem Cells Young - A mammalian analog of the active component of honeybee royal jelly acts as a fountain of youth for mouse embryonic stem cells by maintaining their pluripotency. A Renewable Source of Beige Fat to Overcome Obesity - Reprogramming iPSCs to brown and beige adipose tissue, which burns glucose and improve metabolic function, could provide a new therapeutic strategy to address the health risks of obesity. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Millman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Sandra Ryeom is the Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Ryeom’s lab focuses on understanding the contribution of endothelial cells in different organs towards maintaining stem cell populations. She joins us to discuss her work and recent paper in Nature Communications. Resources and Links Zaps to Brain to Ease Depression - People’s moods quickly improved after scientists stimulated the orbitofrontal cortex in the brain, a finding that may ultimately usher in powerful ways to combat severe depression. Gut Bacteria May Guard against Diabetes - The friendly gut bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila may help protect against Type II diabetes. Those bacteria are lost with aging, setting the stage for the disease. Small Doses of Peanut Protein Can Help Allergies – A study finds that allergic children exposed to gradually increasing doses of peanut protein increased their tolerance to nuts, and lowered symptom severity. Coffee or Tea Preference Is Written In DNA - Whether people drink tea or coffee may depend partly on which bitter chemicals they have a genetic sensitivity towards. The First CRISPR Babies Are Born in China - A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies by using CRISPR technology. Intestinal Allografts Contain Functional Hematopoietic Stem Cells – A surprising new study has found that the human intestine may provide up to 10 percent of blood cells in circulation from its own reservoir of hematopoietic stem cells. Healthy Blood Stem Cell Have As Many DNA Mutations as Leukemic Cells - Researchers have found that the number of mutations in healthy and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells does not differ. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Sandra Ryeom Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Karun Singh is a Principal Investigator, Associate Professor and the David Braley Chair in Human Stem Cell Research at McMaster University. The overall goal of Dr. Singh’s research program is to use stem cell-based models to study neurological disorders and devise new therapies for these conditions. His latest paper discusses an iPSC knockout resource for functional studies of autism-risk genes. Resources and Links Microneedles for Eyes - A team of researchers developed a contact lens-like eyepatch that would leave tiny, dissolving microneedles in the eye to slowly deliver drugs over several days. Making Mitochondria - Researchers engineered endosymbiosis between E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to model the endosymbiotic theory of mitochondrial evolution. Obesity Linked to Tumor Growth - Obesity raises the risk of certain tumors and reduces immune activity, but might also amplify the effects of some cancer therapies. People of the Andes Evolved Uniquely - A new study of ancient and modern DNA suggests that the Andean highland people of Peru adapted differently from lowland populations due to environmental and social pressures. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Is Indispensable for the Maintenance of Muscle Stem Cells – Researchers found decreased proteasome activity in the satellite cells of mice lacking the crucial proteasomal component, Rpt3. Ablation of Rpt3 in satellite cells resulted in proliferation defects and apoptosis. In Vitro Expansion of Primary Human Hepatocytes with Efficient Liver Repopulation Capacity – Researchers provided a protocol that enables the large-scale expansion of transplantable human hepatocytes, which could be further developed for modeling and treating human liver disease. First Patient Receives Stem Cell Transplant in Parkinson's Trial - A research team at Kyoto University injected induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body, into the brain of a 50-year old male with Parkinson's disease. Neural Stem Cells Help Repair Brain Injuries - A study has found that a neural stem cell transplantation into a mouse model of cerebral palsy repaired damaged parts of the brain while restoring motor impairments; however, the cells themselves did not differentiate, suggesting that they promote an indirect mechanism of recovery. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Karun Singh Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Pamela Robey is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the NIH. Dr. Robey’s work focuses on skeletal biology, and the characteristics and biological properties of bone marrow stromal cells, a subset of which are multipotent skeletal stem cells.  In late September, Dr. Robey co-authored a commentary article in Nature discussing the ever famous, but dubious, mesenchymal stem cell. She comes on the show to talk about this and more. Resources and Links Sunbathing Every Other Day for a Darker Tan and Less Damage - Exposure to the sun every other day, rather than daily, can improve a sunbather's dark tan while minimizing skin damage. First Viable Freeze-Thawed Coral Larvae Reported - A technique called cryopreservation might help save some threatened coral reefs. The first coral larvae to survive being frozen and then thawed by scientists are a kind of a mushroom coral. Mix of Gut Bacteria Allow Pathogens to Flourish - The bacterium Clostridioides difficile, that causes severe diarrhea, takes advantage when antibiotics or other factors disrupt the normal mix of microbes in the gut. Changing Fruit Flies’ Gut Bacteria Makes Them Speed Walk - The authors suggest that microbes in the gut may affect how the brain controls movement. Stem Cell Derived Neural Cells Are Going to Space - Research teams at the Summit for Stem Cell labs in La Jolla, California, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute in New York, NY, will conduct the first long-term cell culture experiment in space focused on neurodegenerative diseases. How Sleeping Mammary Stem Cells Are Awakened in Puberty - Scientists have discovered how the growth of milk-producing mammary glands is triggered during puberty. Testicular Endothelial Cells Are a Critical Population in the Germline Stem Cell Niche - Identifying testicular endothelial cells as a niche population necessary for spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal may facilitate fertility preservation for prepubertal boys diagnosed with cancer. Engineered Anti-CRISPR Proteins for Optogenetic Control of CRISPR–Cas9 – Researchers enabled light-mediated genome and epigenome editing, and revealed rapid Cas9 genome targeting in human cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Pamela Robey Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Benjamin Dekel is a leading investigator in the field of human renal stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He is the Head of the Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Resources and Links Gene Editing Creates Mice with Two Dads - Researchers gathered fathers’ stem cells, and used them to produce embryos that were implanted into surrogate mothers. A New Microscope to Visualize Mammalian Development - A new microscope uses laser light to image growing mammal embryos. Scientists used the instrument to track a mouse embryo as it developed over two days. Rising Temperatures and Drought Target Barley Crops Worldwide - Climate change impacts on barley crops could lead to less beer and skyrocketing prices. Hundreds of Dietary Supplements Are Tainted with Potentially Harmful Drugs - Most of the nearly 800 dietary supplements flagged by the FDA as tainted with potentially harmful drugs from 2007 to 2016 were marketed to improve sex drive, help with weight loss or build muscle. HOPX-Dependent Cardiomyocyte Maturation – Single-cell RNA-seq during cardiac hPSC differentiation reveals cellular heterogeneity. CRISPR Screens to Identify Factors that Drive Neuronal Fate – Researchers activated the expression of all endogenous transcription factors and other regulators via a pooled CRISPRa screen in embryonic stem cells, revealing genes including epigenetic regulators such as Ezh2 that can induce neuronal fate. A Biodegradable Device for Electrical Stimulation of Nerve Regrowth - Researchers have developed an implantable, biodegradable device that delivers regular pulses of electricity to damaged peripheral nerves in rats, helping the animals regrow nerves in their legs and recover their nerve function and muscle strength more quickly. In Utero CRISPR Mediated Therapeutic Editing of Metabolic Genes - For the first time, scientists have performed prenatal gene editing to prevent a lethal metabolic disorder in laboratory animals, offering the potential to treat human congenital diseases before birth. Treatment of a Metabolic Liver Disease by In Vivo Genome Base Editing in Adult Mice - A team of researchers applied a newly developed editing tool to target and correct genetic mutations. By doing so, the researchers healed mice suffering from a genetic metabolic disorder that also affects humans. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Benjamin Dekel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tsvee Lapidot is a Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research investigates the regulation of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells by the brain-bone-blood triad in transplanted mice. In this episode we talk to him about his research and his latest study in Cell Stem Cell looking at the influence of circadian rhythms on regulation of blood stem cells. Resources and Links Nobel Congratulations - This year’s Nobel laureates discovered brakes that keep immune cells called T cells from attacking cancer. The laureates’ innovations remove those brakes, allowing the immune system to fight tumors. Deadly Strain of Bird Flu Can Easily Infect Ducks - Some ducks in China’s Fujian province carry highly pathogenic strains of the H7N9 avian influenza virus. Placing CRISPR Gene Editor into Bacteria Can Kill the Pathogen - A new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistance Staphylococcus aureus bacteria co-opts genes that normally make the bacteria more dangerous. First Lab Test of Gene Drive Wiped Out Mosquito Population - The malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles gambiae’s days might be numbered. Scientists have devised a gene drive that bottomed out the mosquito’s populations in lab tests. Novel Method for Detecting Human Embryonic Stem Cells - A new method developed by researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design can potentially ensure patient safety for future stem cell-based therapies by enhancing native stem cell bioelectric signals. Erythro-Myeloid Progenitors Contribute Endothelial Cells to Blood Vessels - This new report shows that a complementary source of endothelial cells is recruited into pre-existing vasculature after differentiation from the earliest precursors of erythrocytes, megakaryocytes and macrophages - the erythro-myeloid progenitors that are born in the yolk sac. Induction of Resistance to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy - The progeny of a subclone of the parental leukemia generated during the cell manufacturing process can lead to a late relapse of leukemia. Urine Derived Cells Provide Cell Type for Reprogramming - Authors report the reprogramming of multiple patient urine-derived cell lines with mRNA reprogramming, which, to date, is one of the fastest and most faithful reprogramming methods. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Tsvee Lapidot Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Louis Vermeulen is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation, where he is focusing on the role of stem cells in colorectal cancer development and progression. He aims to develop improved preventative strategies and novel therapies for this disease by studying the effects of genetic mutations on the behavior of stem cells in the gut. Resources and Links Recount of the Human Genome - A recount of human genes increases the number to at least 46,831. The new estimate is based on a broader definition a gene. Bias in Studying the Genome - Despite the Human Genome Project having heralded the exploration of previously unknown human genes, the focus of genetic studies remains narrow. Obesity Can Harm Learning and Memory - Obesity may prod immune cells to nibble parts of nerve cell connections called synapses, a mouse study suggests. A New Antibiotic to Kill Superbugs - A new drug can wipe out strains of common bacteria that have resisted treatment to multiple other antibiotics, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause urinary tract or respiratory infections. Glial Cells Prevent Tau Pathology  - By preventing the accumulation of senescent cells in the brain, scientists were able to diminish tau protein aggregation, neuronal death and memory loss. Software for Personalized Leukemia Treatments - Early findings from a new study could help in the development of immune-based treatments personalized to people with acute myeloid leukemia who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells to Save Rhino Species – A second rhino has become pregnant this year through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Scientists reprogrammed cryopreserved rhino cells and matured them into germ cells to be used for the insemination. Gene Therapy via Skin to Protect from Cocaine Over Dose - A new study shows that epidermal stem cells, modified via CRISPR and transplanted back to donor mice, can protect addicted mice from cocaine-seeking behavior and overdose. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Louis Vermeulen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kelly Frazer is the Director of the UC San Diego Institute for Genomic Medicine and Founding Chief of the Division of Genome Information Sciences in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego. Dr. Frazer has spent the past 25 years studying various aspects of functional and structural human genomics. In this episode she talks to us about her recent paper looking at the mutational burden of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Resources and Links New Found Skull Tunnels – Using a micro-CT scan, scientists found that the mouse skull is full of microscopic channels that connect the bone to the brain’s outer membrane. Similar channels were found in human skulls. Microglia Part of Sex-Linked Brain Disorders – Scientists found that male microglia might be less protected against environmental insults and quicker to activate the cellular suicide program. Genes to Help Plants Produce Morphine-Like Molecules - The newly deciphered genome of the opium poppy is helping scientists figure out how the plant evolved the ability to make morphine and other similar painkilling molecules. CRISPR to Help Dog Muscular Dystrophy - Scientists have used CRISPR/Cas9 to repair a genetic mutation in beagle puppies that causes muscular dystrophy. New Cell Fate Determinant Identified in Neural Stem Cells - Lisa Flanagan, PhD, and her research team examined several pathways that add sugars to cells and found one that differed between cells that make neurons and cells that make astrocytes. A New Family Tree of Blood Production Provides Info on Stem Cells - A new study shows that humans have ten times more hematopoietic stem cells than previously thought. Blood Brain Barrier Chip System - Wyss Institute researchers have created organ chips that mimic the brain and the blood-brain barrier and, by linking them together, have discovered how our blood vessels and neurons influence each other. Using Stem Cell Factors in Wounds Could Help Heal Skin Ulcers - Scientists have developed a technique to directly convert the cells in an open wound into new skin cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kelly Frazer Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD is Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Simon H. Stertzer Endowed Professor in Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Department of Radiology at the Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Wu is a pioneer in using iPS cells in personalized medicine and we talk to him about his work and the state of the field in respect to novel stem cell therapies for cardiovascular disease. Resources and Links First FDA Approved RNAi Therapy - The FDA has approved Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Onpattro (patisiran) infusion, a first-of-its-kind RNA-based therapy for treating peripheral nerve disease (polyneuropathy) caused by hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis in adult patients. Cancer Drug to Help Liver Overcome Painkiller Overdose - In mice given a toxic dose of acetaminophen, an anticancer medication kept liver cells alive. Zika Virus Harms Nearly 1 in 7 Babies Exposed to The Virus in the Womb - A CDC study of births in U.S. territories tallies birth defects and later health problems. Scientists Tracked the Speed of Cell Suicide - The study shows that the process of cells' self-inflicted death, called apoptosis, functions in trigger waves that travel at speeds of 30 micrometers per minute. Why Salamanders Regenerate and Lizards Do Not - By transplanting neural stem cells between species, researchers have discovered that the lizard's native stem cells are the primary factor hampering tail regeneration. Stem Cell Transplants to Treat Cystic Fibrosis - Researchers believe their breakthrough in stem cell transplantation therapy, developed in mice, could eventually provide a cure for cystic fibrosis. iPS Cells for Platelet Transplant Therapy - A team at Japan's Kyoto University hopes to conduct the first clinical study of an intractable blood disease using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Stem Cells Restore Some Vision in Blind Mice - The procedure is the first of its kind and researchers hope that it will lead to treatments for incurable eye diseases. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joseph Wu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe