Wednesday, 14 November 2018 to Thursday, 15 November 2018

Imaging human stem cell models of neurodegenerative disease

Wed14  Nov11:00am(30 mins)
Where:
The Auditorium
Speaker:
Dr Clare Jones

Abstract

The development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases has been hampered by the paucity of robust, predictive in vitro and in vivo models available to support drug discovery programs. The availability of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical neuronal cultures is now enabling early efficacy studies to be completed in human systems. In vitro differentiation of human iPSC to terminally differentiated cortical neurons mimics in vivo human neurogenesis and can be achieved in culture over a period of 60-90 days. The resulting cellular systems comprising neurons and astrocytes, are electrically active and form functional networks. Cortical projection neurons generated from iPSCs bearing genetic mutations that are causally associated with disease are proving to be useful models to enable the mechanistic study of cellular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, iPSC-derived microglia provide a promising model system to explore the role of this important cell type in neuroinflammatory disease. The high content imaging platform, OPERA-Phenix is a powerful tool to study cellular phenotypes and processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology, in complex 2D cultures in 96/384 well format. Here, examples will be discussed, including exploring mechanisms of tau uptake by neurons; quantification of tau mislocalisation in familial Alzheimer’s disease neurons as a disease relevant phenotype; and a study of small molecule modulators of mitophagy.

Schedule

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ELRIG

The European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group Our Vision : To provide outstanding, leading edge knowledge to the life sciences community on an open access basis