Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for detecting cognitive disorders such as Schizophrenia. Demonstrated herein is collapsing response mediator protein-2 (CRMP2) as a biomarker for detecting Schizophrenia in peripheral blood sample.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods useful for hair follicle generation comprising transplanting human pluripotent stem cell-derived hair follicle bulge stem cells, wherein the developmental and molecular requirements for the generation of hair follicle following transplantation is ensured.

Abstract: Described are platforms, systems, and methods for screening patients. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, from a cellular imaging device, image data comprising calcium kinetic features of neuronal cultures derived from a patient; processing the image data through a machine-learning model to determine a diagnosis for the patient based on the calcium kinetic features, the machine-learning model trained using neuronal calcium data; and providing the diagnosis a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon a surprising finding that stem cells, more particularly neural stem cells, can migrate throughout a brain tumor and track metastatic brain tumor cells. The invention provides a method for treating brain tumors by administering genetically engineered neural stem cells in an individual affected by brain tumors. The invention also provides a method of preparing genetically engineered neural stem cells and a composition comprising genetically engineered neural stem cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to the induction of the neuronal fate in neural stem cells or neural progenitor cells. The inventors have found that a neuronal fate in a neural stem cell or neural progenitor cell can be induced by expressing Nurr1 above basal levels within the cell. Nurr1 is a transcription factor of the thyroid hormone/retinoic acid nuclear receptor superfamily. It is shown herein that the expression of Nurr1 above basal levels in neural stem cells or neural progenitor cells increases the proportion of the cells which differentiate toward a neural fate. It has been found that in particular, dopaminergic neural stem cells or progenitor cells by a process including expression of Nurr1 above basal levels in the cells and contact of the cells with one or more factors supplied by or derived from Type I astrocytes of the ventral mesencephalon.

Abstract: Stem cells, including mammalian, and particularly primate primordial stem cells (pPSCs) such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), hold great promise for restoring cell, tissue, and organ function. However, cultivation of stem cells, particularly undifferentiated hESCs, in serum-free, feeder-free, and conditioned-medium-free conditions remains crucial for large-scale, uniform production of pluripotent cells for cell-based therapies, as well as for controlling conditions for efficiently directing their lineage-specific differentiation. This instant invention is based on the discovery of the formulation of minimal essential components necessary for maintaining the long-term growth of pPSCs, particularly undifferentiated hESCs. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin, ascorbic acid, and laminin were identified to be both sufficient and necessary for maintaining hESCs in a healthy self-renewing undifferentiated state capable of both prolonged propagation and then directed differentiation.

Abstract: An isolated mammalian extraembryonic endoderm-like cell line is provided. Methods for producing isolated mammalian extraembryonic endoderm-like cell line derived from a mammalian pluripotent stem cell culture are provided. Primate or human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) spontaneously generate the primate or human extraembryonic endoderm-like cell line wherein the extraembryonic endoderm-like cells sustain the pluripotence of the primate or human ESCs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of cellular and molecular therapy with modified (genetically or growth factor engineered) and unmodified stem cells (SCs). More particularly, the invention relates to a method of systemic treatment of central nervous system (CNS) and other tumors in both intracranial/intraspinal and extracranial/extraspinal sites, using neural stem cells (NSCs), a prototype for solid organ, non-hematopoietic stem cells.

Abstract: One of the impediments to the treatment of some human brain tumors (e.g. gliomas) has been the degree to which they expand, migrate widely, and infiltrate normal tissue. We demonstrate that a clone of multipotent neural progenitor stem cells, when implanted into an experimental glioma, will migrate along with and distribute themselves throughout the tumor in juxtaposition to widely expanding and aggressively advancing tumor cells, while continuing to express a foreign reporter gene. Furthermore, drawn somewhat by the degenerative environment created just beyond the infiltrating tumor edge, the neural progenitor cells migrate slightly beyond and surround the invading tumor border. When implanted at a distant sight from the tumor bed (e.g., into normal tissue, into the contralateral hemisphere, into the lateral ventricles) the donor neural progenitor/stem cells will migrate through normal tissue and specifically target the tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon a surprising finding that stem cells, more particularly neural stem cells, can migrate throughout a brain tumor and track metastatic brain tumor cells. The invention provides a method for treating brain tumors by administering genetically engineered neural stem cells in an individual affected by brain tumors. The invention also provides a method of preparing genetically engineered neural stem cells and a composition comprising genetically engineered neural stem cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods, kits and compositions for improving a subject's recovery from CNS injury. In certain aspects, methods of the invention comprise administering to a subject cells and a neural stimulant. Recovery may be manifest by improvements in sensorimotor or cognitive abilities, e.g., improved limb movement and control or improved speech capability. In certain embodiments, subject methods can be used as part of a treatment for damage resulting from ischemia, hypoxia or trauma.

Abstract: Methods, kits and compositions for improving a subject's recovery from CNS injury are disclosed. In certain aspects, a method may include administering to a subject cells and a neural stimulant. Recovery may be manifest by improvements in sensorimotor or cognitive abilities, e.g., improved limb movement and control or improved speech capability. In certain embodiments, subject methods can be used as part of a treatment for damage resulting from ischemia, hypoxia or trauma.

Abstract: A method of treating Alzheimer's disease provides for administering NSC to a susceptible individual. Preferably the NSCs are administered intracisternally. Other administration routes are spinal injection, ventricular injection or systemic injection. Preferably, the quantity of NSC administered is in a range of about 400,000 to about 40,000,000. More preferably, the quantity of NSC is about 1,000,000 to about 10,000,000. The NSCs are administered at multiple locations. The NSCs can be administered to the neocortex or other affected areas of both hemispheres. The method of preventing further deterioration in cognitive function in a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease provides for administering NSC to the person in sufficient quantity to prevent additional loss of cognitive function.

Abstract: Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations.

Abstract: Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations.

Abstract: Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations.

Abstract: One of the impediments to the treatment of some human brain tumors (e.g. gliomas) has been the degree to which they expand, migrate widely, and infiltrate normal tissue. We demonstrate that a clone of multipotent neural progenitor stem cells, when implanted into an experimental glioma, will migrate along with and distribute themselves throughout the tumor in juxtaposition to widely expanding and aggressively advancing tumor cells, while continuing to express a foreign reporter gene. Furthermore, drawn somewhat by the degenerative environment created just beyond the infiltrating tumor edge, the neural progenitor cells migrate slightly beyond and surround the invading tumor border. When implanted at a distant sight from the tumor bed (e.g., into normal tissue, into the contralateral hemisphere, into the lateral ventricles) the donor neural progenitor/stem cells will migrate through normal tissue and specifically target the tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon a surprising finding that stem cells, more particularly neural stem cells, can migrate throughout a brain tumor and track metastatic brain tumor cells. The invention provides a method for treating brain tumors by administering genetically engineered neural stem cells in an individual affected by brain tumors. The invention also provides a method of preparing genetically engineered neural stem cells and a composition comprising genetically engineered neural stem cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Stable clones of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated from the human fetal telencephalon. In vitro, these self-renewing clones (affirmed by retroviral insertion site) can spontaneously give rise to all 3 fundamental neural cell types (neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes). Following transplantation into germinal zones of the developing newborn mouse brain, they, like their rodent counterparts, can participate in aspects of normal development, including migration along well-established migratory pathways to disseminated CNS regions, differentiation into multiple developmentally- and regionally-appropriate cell types in response to microenvironmental cues, and non-disruptive, non-tumorigenic interspersion with host progenitors and their progeny. Readily genetically engineered prior to transplantation, human NSCs are capable of expressing foreign transgenes in vivo in these disseminated locations.