The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: Dr. Valentina Greco is the Carolyn Walch Slayman Professor of Genetics and Co-Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women in Medicine at Yale University. Her research focuses on tissue homeostasis in the face of continuous cellular turnover, frequent injuries, and spontaneous mutations. She talks about her research on skin and hair follicle stem cells, the role of imaging techniques, and bridging science and art. She also discusses disease modeling and building an inclusive lab culture. Featured Products and Resources: Attend a live podcast show at ISSCR 2024. The Stem Cell Podcast has been nominated for a People’s Choice Podcast Award! Vote now. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Next-Generation Genome Editing – An RNA-guided recombinase enzyme enables the insertion, excision, or inversion of specific target DNA sequences. Maintaining HSC Function – Researchers identified the transcription factor Nynrin as a crucial regulator of HSC maintenance by modulating mitochondrial function. A Vascularized Heart-on-a-Chip – Primitive macrophages enhanced cardiac tissue functionality. Brain Chimeroids – A new multidonor human brain cortical organoid model was generated by co-developing cells from a panel of individual donors in a single organoid. Image courtesy of Dr. Valentina Greco Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Sara Vasconcelos is a Senior Scientist and the John Kitson McIvor Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research at University Health Network. She is also an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Her lab studies microvascular regeneration in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and are working to develop personalized patient-derived organ-chip models for drug screening and other applications. In this episode, she talks about modeling cardiac fibrosis and studying pancreatic islet vasculature. She also discusses working with microchips and with large animal models. Featured Products and Resources: It’s almost time for ISSCR 2024! Check out the program here. Use STEMCELL’s STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte media and supplements to differentiate, enrich, expand, and cryopreserve functional hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. The Stem Cell Round Up Gene Editing Lung Stem Cells – Scientists used a lipid nanoparticle delivery system to correct mutations in a mouse model of cystic fibrosis. Trophectoderm Expansion – The polar trophectoderm thickens substantially before the expected time of implantation. Liver Regeneration – Mouse hepatocytes required a functional electron transport chain to proliferate and compete with wild-type hepatocytes during liver regeneration. Revascularizing Limbs – Proangiogenic/arteriogenic monocytes increased circulation in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Image courtesy of Dr. Sara Vasconcelos Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

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

Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen, professor at VIB-KU Leuven studying cortical development and brain evolution. He discusses species-specific neuronal development and human neuron excitability. He describes LRRC37B at the axon initial segment and its possible role in shaping human cortical function. He also talks about stem-cell models and his surprising life outside the lab playing in a rock cover band.

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

Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle, an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine who studies planarian whole-body regeneration, discusses how multipotent stem cells rebuild tissues. She talks about mechanical and microenvironmental cues shaping stem cell behavior. Spatial transcriptomics and functional screens reveal unexpected niche cells and signals. She also reflects on life-history differences and training choices.

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.