The Stem Cell Podcast

Dr. Sebastian Diecke discusses iPSC research, modeling diseases like Huntington's, and organoids from rhinoceroses. They explore advancements in iPSC technology for heart repair, CHIP biomarker significance, and turtle liver organoids. The podcast covers the challenges of balancing service and personal research in a lab and highlights the importance of collaboration in science.

Guest: Dr. Shukry Habib is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Lausanne. His lab works at the intersection of stem cell biology, biophysics, and tissue engineering to investigate how tissues form. He talks about developing a transplantable bandage for bone repair and the role of Wnt signaling and cytonemes in development. Featured Products and Resources: Explore the program for ISSCR 2024! Learn about pluripotent cell quality. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Unequal Blastomere Contribution – Prospective lineage tracing of human embryos revealed that the majority of the epiblast is derived from only one 2-cell stage blastomere. Epigenetic Reprogramming of Germ Cells – Epigenetic reprogramming resets parental epigenetic memories and differentiates primordial germ cells into mitotic pro-spermatogonia or oogonia. Blood-Brain Barrier Organoids – Researchers used patient-derived blood-brain barrier assembloids to model cerebral cavernous malformations. Treating Genetic Liver Disease –  A new study combines ex vivo large-scale cell expansion and gene editing in patient-derived transplantable hepatocytes, which holds potential for treating human liver diseases. Image courtesy of Dr. Shukry Habib Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Shankar Srinivas is a Professor of Developmental Biology in the Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics based in the Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Oxford. He is also a Zeitlyn Fellow and Tutor in Medicine at Jesus College. Using mouse and human embryos as model systems, his group looks at the control of patterning and morphogenesis during the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis, gastrulation, and early cardiogenesis.  He discusses how tissues respond to forces during early development, characterizing cardiac progenitors, and training internationally. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for ISSCR 2024! Explore mentorship resources. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Rat Forebrain Tissues in Mice – Reconstituted rat forebrains in mice exhibit normal structure and function. Interspecies Neural Circuits – Rat stem cells develop in mouse blastocysts to broadly populate two-species brains. Human Embryo Compaction – Researchers mapped cell surface tensions during compaction. Cell Crowding in the Stem Cell Epithelium – In human embryonic stem cells, cellular crowding leads to the blockade of FGFR1 endocytosis. Image Courtesy of Dr. Shankar Srinivas Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen is a Professor and Principal Investigator at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. His lab studies the mechanisms of cortical development and brain evolution. He talks about species-specific neuronal development, human neuron excitability, and playing in a rock cover band! Featured Products and Resources: Register now for ISSCR 2024, taking place July 10-13 in Hamburg, Germany! The Lab Coats & Life™  has launched! Listen to conversations to help you thrive as a scientist. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Modeling Cancer Ex Vivo – Induced mini-colons recapitulated hallmarks of colorectal tumors. Human Embryo Gastrulation – Scientists reconstructed a 3D model of a gastrulating human embryo using spatial transcriptomics. Treating Timothy Syndrome – Antisense oligonucleotides rescued defects in patient-derived cortical organoids. Sympathetic Neurons in Jawless Vertebrates – Scientists identified trunk sympathetic neurons in the sea lamprey. Image courtesy of Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ryan Flynn is a Principal Investigator at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department at Harvard University. His lab explores the interface between RNA and glycans. He talks about the discovery of glycoRNA and the chemistry of the RNA-glycan connection. He also discusses the effects of glycans on stem cell function and deciding between a career in medicine and basic science. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for ISSCR 2024, happening July 10-13 in Hamburg, Germany. Listen to the  Lab Coats & Life™ Podcast to stay informed about useful soft skills and relevant trends to help you thrive as a scientist.  The Stem Cell Science Round Up Modeling Traumatic Brain Injury – Researchers used mechanically injured organoids to identify a target to reduce neuronal death after brain injury. Spinal Cord Organoid Regeneration – The regenerative capabilities of the neonatal spinal cord may be due to proteins in the extracellular matrix. HSC Transplantation to Treat HIV – Scientists developed a gene editing strategy targeted for autologous HSPC transplantation as a functional cure for HIV. Hepatocyte Organoids to Treat Liver Failure – Encapsulated liver organoids rescued mice from liver failure. Image Courtesy of Dr. Ryan Flynn Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She talks about how multipotent cells in Schmidtea mediterranea enable whole-body regeneration. She also discusses the effects of the mechanical environment on stem cell fate. Featured Products and Resources: Register for ISSCR 2024! Get updates about new mentorship content from Lab Coats & Life™ The Stem Cell Science Round Up Antibodies to Rejuvenate the Immune System – Depleting myeloid-biased HSCs in aged mice restores features of a more youthful immune system. Infant Intestinal Perforation and Brain Injury – Scientists identified subventricular zone echogenicity on cranial ultrasound in preterm infants following intestinal perforations. Cell Fate in Brain Development – Researchers studied fate decisions in cerebral organoids and early fetal tissue. Autofluorescence in Neural Stem Cells – Quiescent and activated neural stem cells have unique autofluorescence profiles. Image courtesy of Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Amander Clark is the President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and Founding Director of the Center for Reproductive Science, Health, and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Agnete Kirkeby is a Program Chair of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, Associate Professor at Lund University and the University of Copenhagen, and Group Leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology – reNEW. Dr. Malin Parmar is a Program Chair of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, Professor at Lund University, and a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator. They talk about the upcoming ISSCR 2024 meeting in Hamburg, Germany from July 10-13, 2024. They discuss the meeting’s clinical focus, spotlight and plenary sessions, and opportunities for students and postdocs. Featured Products and Resources: Submit your abstract for ISSCR 2024! Get updates about new mentorship content from Lab Coats & Life™ The Stem Cell Science Round Up Hypoblast Development in the Embryo – Scientists examined post-implantation signaling interactions using human embryos and stem cell models of the epiblast and hypoblast. Retinoic Acid in Tissue Regeneration – Manipulating retinoid availability in skin and in culture allowed researchers to direct stem cells to heal wounds or to make hair. Human Heart Development – Researchers developed a spatial map of the developing human heart. Bioprinting Cardiac Tissues – hPSC-atrioventricular canal cardiomyocytes can delay electrical impulse in 3D bioprinted tissue. Image courtesy of Drs. Amander Clark, Agnete Kirkeby, and Malin Parmar Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Explore the role of glial cells in the gut and their impact on intestinal motility. Learn about the research on astrocytes in organoids and their function. Discover advancements in bone marrow organoids modeling hematopoietic development and lymphoma organoids for targeted cancer treatments. Dive into the challenges and successes of creating graftable hematopoietic stem cells. Delve into the importance of diversity and authentic problem-solving in science.

Guest: Dr. Ritu Raman is the d’Arbeloff Career Development Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where her lab uses robotics and tissue engineering to treat muscle loss. She talks about light-activated muscle grafts, magnetic microparticles to control forces exerted on cells, and strategies for science communication. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for ISSCR 2024, happening July 10-13 in Hamburg, Germany. The Lab Coats & Life™ Podcast features conversations about useful soft skills, relevant trends, and important efforts from within the scientific community to help you thrive as a scientist. Listen now! The Stem Cell Science Round Up Cell Therapy for COPD – Researchers conducted an early, open-label clinical trial of autologous P63+ lung progenitor cells for the treatment of patients with COPD. Primary Hypoimmune Islets in Non-Human Primates – Hypoimmune pseudo-islets engraft and achieve insulin independence in a fully allogeneic monkey. Modeling Proteinopathies in Neural Stem Cells – Scientists developed a model of neural networks to study ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. An Interactive Cardiomyocyte Exhibit – In a museum exhibit, visitors can synchronize live stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes’ beat rate to their own heartbeat in real time. Image Courtesy of Dr. Ritu Raman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at UC San Diego. Her lab studies epithelial stem cells throughout their lifetimes. She talks about lymphatics in the intestinal stem cell niche, 3D imaging techniques, and sharing her science with a wider audience. Featured Products and Resources: Submit your abstract for ISSCR 2024! Get updates about new mentorship content from STEMCELL. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Non-Invasive Organoid Monitoring – Flexible electronics enable chronic recording of cortical organoids for up to 120 days while preserving their morphology, cytoarchitecture, and cell composition. Human Neuronal Maturation – Researchers identified an epigenetic developmental program that sets the timing of human neuronal maturation. The Gut-Liver Axis and Intestinal Stem Cells – Liver-derived pigment epithelium-derived factor restrains intestinal stem cell proliferation. Recovery After Lung Infection – The TGF-β receptor 2 is important for lung endothelial cells to recover after injury due to influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Image Courtesy of Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe