The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: Dr. Josef Penninger is the Director of the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia and a Canada 150 Chair in Functional Genetics. He was previously the Scientific and Founding Director of the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research is focused on understanding the complex mechanisms of how diseases develop, particularly in cardiovascular, autoimmune and bone diseases, and cancers. Featured Products and Resources: Science in the City – Vancouver EC-Cult™ Resources and Links Shutting Down Glioblastoma at its Earliest Moments – By performing cell-by-cell genetic analyses of developing brain tissues in neonatal mice and laboratory models of brain cancer, scientists have identified a molecular driver of glioblastoma. The Bone Marrow Microenvironment at Single-Cell Resolution –  Researchers have mapped the transcriptional landscape of mouse bone marrow cell populations, both at homeostasis and under conditions of stress-induced hematopoiesis. Exploring the Mouse Gut Endoderm at Single Cell Resolution – Investigators have shown that throughout embryogenesis endoderm cells acquire a transcriptional identity that reflects their future fate and spatial positioning. Specification of Positional Identity in the Forebain – Scientists have grown topographically organized human forebrain organoids using engineered signaling centers. The Developmental Origin and Lifespan of Osteoclasts – Researchers have identified the developmental origin of osteoclasts and a mechanism that controls their maintenance in bones after birth.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Josef Penninger Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kristen Brennand is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomics, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. A major focus of her work is in developing in vitro models for schizophrenia in order to identify novel insights into the molecular and cellular phenotypes of mental illness. Her lab has established a new mechanism using iPSC-based models to systematically test the impact of causal variants in human cells. Featured Resource: Subscribe to Neural Cell News Dr. Kristen Brennand Webinar: Using hiPSCs to Study Genetic Variants Linked to Schizophrenia Resources and Links Testicular Graft Produces Sperm and Live Offspring – Primates that had prepubertal testicular tissue removed, frozen, and grafted back later in life were able to produce sperm and offspring. Using Cardiac Organoids for Drug Screening – Cardiac organoids were used to identify pro-regenerative drugs without detrimental side effects on cardiac function. A Common Embryonic Origin of Neural Progenitors – Investigators have found that in mice, a single population of neural progenitors contributes to lifelong neurogenesis in the hippocampus. New Brain Cells Made throughout Life – Scientists have shown that humans can make new brain cells into their nineties, but this production progressively declines in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Using Phenotypes to Identify Schizophrenia Genes – Researchers have developed a phenotypic atlas of schizophrenia-associated genes, and identified 30 genes for further study.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kristen Brennand Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Robert Mays is the Co-founder and Vice President of Regenerative Medicine and Head of Neuroscience Programs at Athersys Inc. He focuses on Athersys’ proprietary stem cell product, MultiStem®, and its applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery, with a specific focus on injuries and diseases affecting the central nervous system. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Cytokines Resources and Links New Drug Developed to Treat Heart Attack Damage – Using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, scientists have developed a new drug that minimizes cardiomyocyte death following a heart attack. Enhancing iPSC Immune Compatibility – Researchers used CRISPR to make immunocompatible donor iPSCs that could increase iPSC-based regenerative medicine applications. Kidney Organoids Created from Urine – Researchers have generated kidney tubular epithelial organoids from both kidney tissue and urine cells, which can be used for personalized disease modeling. Modeling Developmental Disorder with Brain Organoids – Cerebral organoids were used to model the developmental disorder neuronal heterotopia, providing insight into the mechanisms causing impaired neuronal migration. Cancer-Specific Inhibitor Identified – Researchers have identified a cancer-specific inhibitor that targets the metabolic needs of cancer cells.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Robert Mays Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Andrew Murphy is an Associate Professor at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He seeks to understand the processes by which hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow niche become affected in disease, specifically in the context of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Featured Resource: Apply to become a co-host on the Stem Cell Podcast! Hematopoiesis Hub Resources and Links Quiescence Increases the Resistance and Function of Old Neural Stem Cells – Increased quiescence makes aged neural stem cells resistant to regeneration. But, if activation is enforced, both young and old NSCs show similar proliferation and differentiation capacity. A Gliogenic Switch for Human Astrocytes – Researchers have developed a new method to rapidly differentiate astrocytes from PSC-derived neural stem cells using a protein switch. Generating Thalamic Organoids – Researchers have created thalamic organoids and fused them together with an organoid of the frontal cortex to study brain development and disease. CRISPR Therapy for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (Article 1)(Article 2) – Two separate research groups have used CRISPR to suppress the accelerated aging observed in mice with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. CRISPR Makes iPSCs Invisible to the Immune System – Using CRISPR, scientists have created iPSCs that evade the immune system and prevent transplant rejection, poising them as a “universal” donor stem cell.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Andrew Murphy Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Paul Frenette is the Chair and Director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Frenette’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular constitutents of the stem cell niche, mechanisms of sickle cell vaso-occlusion, the role of the nervous system in cancer, and understanding how hematopoietic stem cells and mature blood cells traffic in vivo. Featured Resource: STEMvision™ Resources and Links An Improved Approach for Generating Kidney Organoids – Researchers have developed a new in vitro method for generating vascularized, mature kidney organoids by exposing them to fluidic shear stress. Functional Insulin-Producing Cells Grown in Lab – For the first time, mature insulin-producing cells have been developed from stem cells. Reprogramming Pancreatic Cells to Treat Diabetes – Scientists have reprogrammed pancreatic α-cells into insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells that were able to reverse diabetes in mice. A Bioengineered Factory for T Cells – Researchers have developed an injectable bone marrow-like scaffold that enhances T cell development following a bone marrow transplant. Sleep Protects against Heart Disease – By subjecting mice to chronic sleep fragmentation, researchers have discovered a neuro-immune axis that links sleep to hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Paul Frenette Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Stephanie Willerth is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on using engineering-based approaches to stem cell biology. Her team develops bioactive scaffolds for directing stem cell differentiation, and investigates the expression of transcription factors that regulates this process. The goal of her group’s research is to develop engineered tissues that can be transplanted in the human nervous system to treat diseases like Parkinson’s or repair damaged spinal cord tissue. Featured Resources: STEMdiff™ Neural System for hPSC-Based Neurological Modeling Science in Vancouver Resources and Links A Druggable Target for Alzheimer’s Disease – Researchers have identified a cholesterol product regulating Tau proteostasis, which could serve as a drug target for Alzheimer’s disease. New Biomarker and Drug Target for ALS – Using an iPSC model of human motor neurons, researchers discovered that the STMN2 gene may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ALS. Generation of Lung Organoids – Researchers have developed a protocol for differentiating hPSCs into human lung and bud tip progenitor organoids. Scientists Grow Human Blood Vessels in a Dish – Scientists have grown functional human vascular organoids that can be used to model and study vascular diseases. Organoid-Induced Differentiation of T Cells – Artificial thymic organoids were used to generate mature T cells from PSCs, providing a renewable source for treatment.   Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Willerth Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. James Wells is the Director for Research in the Division of Endocrinology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, as well as the Chief Scientific Officer at the Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM). His research focuses on understanding the embryonic development of the pancreas and gastrointestinal organs by identifying mechanisms involved in the embryonic development of endocrine cells. His translational projects include generating 3D human tissues from pluripotent stem cells to model diabetes and digestive disease. Resources and Links Creation of 3D Printed Implant for Spinal Cord Injuries – Researchers have succesfully 3D printed a two-millimeter spinal cord implant to repair spinal cord injuries in rats. Researchers Generate Human Naive Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – A combination of microfluidics and modified RNA have been used to directly reprogram somatic cells into naive, rather than primed, hiPSCs. Cutting Off Melanoma’s Escape Routes – Scientists have discovered stem cells which form blood vessels in tumors, and have identified how to switch the cells off, cutting off the blood supply. Endoglin as a Target for Acute Leukemia – A glycoprotein on the cell surface, called endoglin, is a marker for cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia and acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia. Correcting the Genetic Mutation that Causes a Life-Threatening Autoimmune Syndrome – Researchers have developed a method for modifying blood stem cells to reverse the genetic mutation that causes IPEX syndrome. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. James Wells Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

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