Abstract: The present invention provides cell populations enriched for specific neural precursor markers and methods of using such cell populations for treatment of disorders associated with dysregulation of inhibitory neuronal function and/or imbalances in excitatory/inhibitory neuronal activity. In particular, the present invention provides cell populations for use as a cell-based therapeutic, and methods for purification and use of these neural precursor cells in transplantation to ameliorate neural disorders associated with aberrant neural function.

Abstract: Herein are described a set of novel specific human enhancers for specific forebrain cell types used to study and select for human neural progenitor cells. This approach enables the ability to generate interneurons from human ES, iPS and iN cells, making them available for human transplantation and for molecular/cellular analyzes. These approaches are also directly applicable to generating other neuronal cell types, such as cortical and striatal projection neurons, which have implications for many human diseases.