The rockefeller university

Event Details

Type

Friday Lecture Series

Speaker(s)

James M. Wells, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics, Perinatal Institute Endowed Professor, division of developmental biology, director for basic research, division of endocrinology, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center

Speaker bio(s)

Successful efforts to direct the differentiation of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into specific organ cell types in vitro have been largely guided by studies in embryonic development. Dr. Wells's laboratory has used signaling pathways that control early endoderm organ specification and morphogenesis in vivo to generate complex, three-dimensional organ tissues with improved functionality from human PSCs in vitro. His laboratory identified that by modulating FGF, Wnt, and BMP signaling pathways, they were able to control anterior–posterior patterning, PSC-derived definitive endoderm, as well as gut tube morphogenesis in vitro. The resulting three-dimensional gut tube tissues resembled either foregut or mid-/hindgut. These gut tube tissues could be further directed into specific organ tissue types by additional manipulation of embryonic signaling pathways. For example, the Wells laboratory has been able to use a temporal series of growth factor manipulations that mimic embryonic intestinal development to generate three-dimensional human small and large intestinal organoids (HIOs). They have also generated foregut-derived organoids including fundic and antral gastric organoids. Organoids contain epithelial structures of diverse cell types that are unique to their representative organ. Moreover, Wells's group is able to manipulate specific cell lineages using genetic gain- and loss-of-function approaches. They have also engineered additional complexity into organoids; for example, they have incorporated a functional enteric nervous system into HIOs and generated intestinal tissue that is capable of peristaltic-like motility. Lastly, Dr. Wells's laboratory is using organoids to model diseases caused by genetic or infectious agents. For example, they have modeled epithelial repair induced by infection with Helicobacter pylori and established a new human model for neonatal diabetes and congenital malabsorption.

 

Research in the Wells laboratory focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms that control organogenesis and using this information to direct the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into human organ tissues (organoids) including pancreas, stomach, and intestine. Organoids are being used to model diabetes and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and are studied for their therapeutic potential to restore function to damaged tissues.

 

Dr. Wells received his Ph.D. in genetics from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1995. He did his postdoctoral work with Doug Melton at Harvard University. In 2002, he joined the department of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center as an assistant professor, becoming an associate professor in 2008 and a full professor in 2012. He holds an endowed position from the Perinatal Institute, and in the division of developmental biology, he established and now directs the human pluripotent stem cell facility. Among other honors, Dr. Wells received a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation pilot and feasibility award in 2010 and the Senior Research Award from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation in 2016.

Open to

Public

Host

Eric Siggia, Ph.D.

Reception

Refreshments, 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Abby Lounge

Contact

Linda Hanssler

Phone

(212) 327-7714

Sponsor

Linda Hanssler
(212) 327-7714
lhanssler@rockefeller.edu

Readings

http://librarynews.rockefeller.edu/?p=3971