Dissecting the molecular regulation of hematopoietic stem cell emergence using pluripotent stem cells to improve ex vivo therapies
| Title | Dissecting the molecular regulation of hematopoietic stem cell emergence using pluripotent stem cells to improve ex vivo therapies |
|---|---|
| Acronym | HSC-reNEW |
| Start date | 2023-03-01 |
| End date | 2028-02-29 |
| Sponsor | European Research Council - Consolidator Grant (ERC-CoG) |
| Institution | Ospedale San Raffaele |
Associated cell lines
- ESi005-A (cFA404-KiPS4F-1)
- STJUDEi004-A (INS3)
- STJUDEi005-A (INS14)
- TIGETi001-A (ND1.2)
- WAe001-A (H1, WA01)
- WAe009-A (H9, WA09)
Project Description
Although hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) transplantation is routinely used to treat blood disorders, immune incompatibility and donor shortage remain critical clinical barriers. Likewise, since high number of HSCs are needed for successful transplants, the absence of reliable expansion protocols prevents the wider application of this cell therapy. Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) could serve as a solution to these problems, as they would provide a potentially unlimited, easy to engineer, source of immunologically matched HSCs. However, despite recent advances, the robust de novo generation of HSCs remains unrealized due to an incomplete understanding of how HSCs are generated during embryonic development, a process that, as such, cannot be accurately recapitulated in vitro. To tackle these issues, in this proposal we will leverage on our proven expertise in PSC differentiation and hematopoietic development. The successful completion of these studies will accomplish the long-standing goals of generating and expanding HSCs in vitro, allowing the fully exploitation of the transformative therapeutic potential of HSC-based cell and gene therapies.