Ricerc@Sapienza

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), the subject of a Nobel Prize in 2012, now represent a well-established technology that allows not only the study of genetic diseases in vitro—using human cells with the same genetic background as the patient for the first time—but also offers a glimpse into the early stages of human development. Since they can be converted into any type of adult cell, they are also an excellent system for studying the epigenetic processes underlying differentiation and make it possible to produce human cells in the lab that are otherwise difficult to access, such as neurons and cardiomyocytes. The recent development of genome editing technologies has further enhanced this system, ideally enabling any desired genetic modification. Organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that, to a certain extent, reproduce the cytoarchitecture of real tissues and organs. In particular, brain organoids derived from human iPS cells are of great interest in neuroscience for at least two reasons: 1. By recapitulating the development of nervous system structures in 3D, they are used to study neurodevelopmental diseases; 2. They allow comparative studies of specific features of the human nervous system that are otherwise inaccessible through animal model systems. This Facility provides an integrated platform for the generation, cultivation, differentiation (via conventional methods or organoid formation), genome editing, and characterization of stem cells. The available equipment includes a special Class II laminar flow hood with an integrated stereomicroscope equipped with a camera and heated stage, special shaker for the cultivation of organoids, and other instruments for cell culture.