Su-Chun Zhang M.D., Ph.D.

The remarkable developmental potential and replicative capacity of human embryonic stem (ES) cells promise an almost unlimited supply of specific cell types for transplant therapies. Key to this powerful application is the differentiation and isolation of specific cell lineages from pluripotent ES cells. Our laboratory focuses on the neural pathway of ES cell differentiation. We have established an in vitro model of ES cell differentiation to neuroepithelial cells, which are organized in a neural tube-like structure. Using this system, we ask what controls neuroepithelial specification from ES cells and how the neuroepithelia organize into a neural tube. We will then examine whether a regionally specific neural cell type can be patterned in vitro by dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal signals. We are particularly interested in the ventral neural cell types, e.g., retinal ganglion neurons, midbrain dopamine neurons, spinal cord motoneurons and myelinating oligodendrocytes. The ES cell-derived neural cells will be evaluated for their therapeutic potential in animal models including monkey models for spinal cord injury (neuroepithelia) and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (dopamine neurons), ALS (motoneurons) and MS (oligodendrocytes).