Neuron
At Stemnovate, we generate different neuronal and glial cell types from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to a pluripotent state (PS) are of great interest due to their ability to function like embryonic stem (ES) cells while avoiding the ethical concerns arising from the use of ES cells. iPSC have great potential in research and industry as they are self-renewing and pluripotent, with the ability to be converted (differentiated) in any cell type.
Applications
In-vitro toxicology studies
Drug discovery
Tissue engineering and cellular therapies
Disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative, neurological and neuro-inflammatory diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis)
Novel blood brain-barrier delivery technologies
Diagnostic
Human IPSC-Derived Sensory Neurons For Hearing Loss
According to WHO, by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.The sensory system responsible for hearing in the inner ear can be affected by ageing, genetic mutations, infectious diseases, noise exposure, and ototoxic drugs. Unfortunately, there are currently no approved medications specifically targeting sensory recovery. As a result, hearing aids or cochlear implants can manage but not cure severe hearing loss. Sensory neurons generated from iPSCs at Stemnovate have enormous potential for gene therapies and screen for compounds to regenerate sensory cells and study ototoxic degeneration. Moreover, our bioinformatics approach further allows deep insight into gene expression and cellular pathways mapping.
Human IPSC-Derived Sensory Neurons For Neuropathic Pain
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons are critical structures in sensory transduction and pain modulation, allowing the discrimination between various types of sensations. Chronic pain affects 20% of the worldwide population. It arises from multiple aetiologies, including injury or dysfunction of the nervous system, tissue damage, inflammation or invasion. Nevertheless, It can also occur with no apparent aetiology (e.g., fibromyalgia). The mechanisms underlying these various pathologies are still incompletely understood. However, changes in the plasticity and modality of DRG neurons seem to be a hallmark of chronic pain, focusing attention on these cells as targets for therapeutic interventions. DRGs generated at Stemnovate can be used to support preclinical drug discovery for investigating disorders such as chronic pain as well.
Human IPSC-Derived Microglia For Neurological Diseases
Microglia are a specialised type of macrophage-like cells in the central nervous system that participate in numerous brain functions, including the control of neuronal excitability, the support of neurons during development and brain protection/ repair. Our microglia cells derived from iPSCs contribute to the study and treatment of neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, including bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.