Pangyo, Gyeonggi, 18 Jan, 2016| On 26 Jan, Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK, CEO: Dr. Hakim Djaballah) will hold a seminar on application of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by Dr. Gabsang Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA.
 
The successful establishment of hiPSCs can provide unique opportunities for modelling intractable genetic diseases with patient-specific and symptom-relevant cell types. A key challenge to harness the potential of hiPSCs is direct differentiation into specialized cell types relevant to the disease symptoms. His group has developed considerable expertise in differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and hiPSCs towards peripheral neurons, glias and skeletal muscle tissues.
 
In this talk, he will discuss current status of hiPSC-based disease modeling efforts, along with their technical limitations, with examples of multiple cell types and their related diseases.
 
Dr. Gabsang Lee’s current research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is focused on peripheral nerve disease (Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Congenital insensitivity to Pain and Anhidrosis, Familial Dysautonomia) and muscular dystrophies (Duchenne muscular dystrophies, Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophies). His lab has established a novel methodology for direct derivation and prospective isolation of peripheral neurons, Schwann cells and skeletal muscle, from human pluripotent stem cells of diseases. Using these patient-specific model, they are studying disease mechanism and testing therapeutic compounds. 
 
Seminar Registration: Send your name, position, affiliation and contact information to youngwook.kim@ip-korea.org by Monday, January 25, 2016
Seminar Date & Venue: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 3:00pm /1st floor Auditorium at Institut Pasteur Korea
Seminar Cost: Free
Language: English
Speaker: Mr. Gabsang Lee, Ph.D., D.V.M (Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA)
Topic: Application of human pluripotent stem cells toward modeling genetic disorders of peripheral nervous system and skeletal muscle lineages
 
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About Institut Pasteur Korea
Institut Pasteur Korea, located in Pangyo, was founded in 2004. It is a private institution devoted to discovery biology for infectious diseases. IPK’s unique translational capabilities and small molecule intervention technology make it possible to rapidly address unmet global health needs through diagnostics for detection and prevention. IPK strives to have fostering collaborations, partnerships, and educational outreach to share its knowledge and research know-how. Institut Pasteur Korea is a member of the Institut Pasteur International Network which brings together 33 institutes located in 29 countries, united by the same mission, culture, and values. Leveraging vast human and scientific community, the Network is involved in international research projects, public health, teaching and training programs. By its diversity and global presence, the Institut Pasteur International Network aims to respond, in an innovative way, to international public health issues and priorities.