Enhancing Connections: Rebuilding Neural Circuits in Spinal Cord Injury

Biomedical researchers have long sought ways to repair spinal cord damage with the holy grail of the pursuit being the reconstitution of lost function. In the mid 1990’s with the successful culture of human embryonic stem cells, and about a decade later induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the field was energized with a potential new approach to replace the lost neurons and glia cells and restoring neural connections.  In the decades since that discovery some progress has been made, however many hurdles remain, including establishing a functional synaptic connection between the transplanted and host neurons which is crucial for motor function recovery. To boost therapeutic outcomes our guests tested an ex vivo gene therapy to promote synapse formation between the donor and host neurons by expressing the synthetic excitatory synapse organizer CPTX in hiPSCs-derived neural stem and progenitor cells. Tune in to learn what they discovered. HostMartin Pera, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports and The Jackson Laboratory@martinperaJAXGuestsHideyuki Okano, MD, PhD Keio University, Japan, Professor in the Department of Physiology and Chairman of the Graduate School of Medicine at Keio University. Professor Okano has spent decades studying neurogenesis and is currently leading a first-of-its-kind cell therapy for spinal cord injury. He has previously served as an Associate Editor for Stem Cell Reports and is a member of the Editorial Board. He is the current President of the Japanese Society of Regenerative Medicine and Vice President of the ISSCR.   Yusuke Saijo, MD. Keio University, Japan, graduated from Kyorin University School of Medicine and following a two-year initial training period, he embarked on a clinical journey, working in the field of orthopedic surgery at Keio University, specializing in the spinal cord and spinal disorders. Dr. Yusuke currently works in the research laboratory led by Professors Okano and Masaya Nakamura, where his research focuses on ex vivo cell and gene therapy for spinal cord regeneration. Supporting ContentHuman-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem/progenitor cell ex vivo gene therapy with synaptic organizer CPTX for spinal cord injury, Stem Cell ReportsAbout Stem Cell ReportsStem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed  journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.Twitter: @StemCellReportsAbout ISSCRWith nearly 5,000 members from 75+ countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.ISSCR StaffKeith Alm, Chief Executive OfficerYvonne Fisher, Managing Editor, Stem Cell ReportsKym Kilbourne, Director of Media and Strategic CommunicationsJack Mosher, Scien