Webinars

Through the multi-lineage potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), notoriously difficult-to-obtain tissues can be differentiated and combined with gene editing to provide suitable disease models. Cell types found in the nervous system are challenging to research due to complications in obtaining primary samples and their limited capacity to proliferate ex vivo.

We will be discussing CRISPR/Cas9 disease modeling using hiPSC-derived cells for genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and other conditions affecting neural cell types such as neural crest and Schwann cells. The talk will include the technologies used to properly edit and screen hiPSC-CRISPR/Cas9 clones, differentiate them to Schwann cells, and preparation of stable Cas9-expressing clones for whole genome synthetic lethality screens.

Key Highlights:

• Modeling neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors using induced pluripotent stem cells

• Use of CRISPR/Cas9 to induce disease-associated mutations into hiPSC or hiPSC-derived neural crest or Schwann cells

• Isolating Cas9-expressing clones for whole genome synthetic lethality screens

• Automated workflows for hiPSC differentiations to improve efficiency and reduce heterogeneity