On-Demand Webinar: Unlocking Insights: Harnessing iPSCs and Cytometry in Neurological Disease Research

Overview

For many years a lack of accurate models has hindered the study of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS. The processes of neurological recovery following spinal injuries or strokes is also being studied. Research on postmortem brain samples typically reflects only the final stages of disease. Rodent models do not equate to human neural characteristics. 

Consequently, developing suitable in vitro cell models is necessary for a deeper understanding of neural and immune cells in the development of neurological disorders.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a groundbreaking means of pursuing studies in vitro cell models. iPSCs are cells from the body that can be reprogrammed back into embryonic-like stem cells, which then have the potential to develop into any type of human cell. Reprogramming cells from individuals with neurological diseases, supports the exploration of disease-specific molecular pathways, especially in neuron subtypes affected by the disease, such as dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease. 

The technology offers opportunities for early intervention, by targeting disease pathways before and during the early stages of the disease. Also, once the neural phenotype associated with a neurological condition is established in vitro, researchers can use organoids or 'disease-in-a-dish' models for more precise drug testing.

Challenges do currently remain in the use of iPSCs. They require exacting conditions to maintain their viability, pluripotency, and ability to multiply. This can be costly and involve complex, time-consuming culture methods. Over the course of time, iPSC cultures can also develop genetic and phenotypic variability, even within cell lines originating from a single cell. 

The development of reliable, straightforward and standardized methods, for the monitoring, assessment, and comparison of iPSC lines, is crucial.

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Valentina Fossati,  Ph.D.

Senior Investigator
The New York Stem Cell Foundation, New York City, New York

Dr. Fossati is senior investigator at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, where she focuses on advancing preclinical studies of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders, using human iPSC-derived cell models. Dr. Fossati established protocols to generate oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neuronal cell types, and is developing organoids and co-culture systems to identify and target the key pathogenic mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration and/or demyelination in progressive multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other diseases of the central nervous system.

Thomas Hartung,  M.D., Ph.D.

Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for Evidence-based Toxicology
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Hartung is the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for Evidence-based Toxicology in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a joint appointment at the Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland. He also holds a joint appointment for Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Bloomberg School. He is an adjunct affiliate professor at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. In addition, he holds a joint appointment as a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at University of Konstanz, Germany, and is the director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, a collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and the University of Konstanz. Dr. Hartung is field chief editor of Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and has authored more than 675 scientific publications with more than 47,000 citations (h-index 115). His toxicology classes on COURSERA had more than 19,000 active learners.