Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of producing iPSCs comprising contacting a cell (e.g., CD34+ cell or other blood cell) in suspension with one or more circular RNAs encoding one or more reprogramming factors and maintaining the cell under conditions under which a reprogrammed iPSC is obtained. In some embodiments, the circular RNA encodes a reprogramming factor (selected from Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, Nanog, Lin28, c-Myc, or L-Myc, or a fragment or variant thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant circular RNAs comprising at least one protein-coding nucleic acid sequence, wherein the protein-coding nucleic acid sequence encodes a reprogramming factor (e.g., a transcription factor), wherein the reprogramming factor is Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, Nanog, Lin28, c-Myc, or L-Myc, or a fragment or variant thereof. Also provided herein are methods of producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), the method comprising contacting a somatic cell with at least one of the recombinant circular RNAs described herein and maintaining the cell under conditions under which a reprogrammed iPSC is obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising expanded definitive endoderm cells as well as methods for expanding definitive endoderm cells in culture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising expanded definitive endoderm cells as well as methods for expanding definitive endoderm cells in culture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising expanded definitive endoderm cells as well as methods for expanding definitive endoderm cells in culture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising expanded definitive endoderm cells as well as methods for expanding definitive endoderm cells in culture.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell culture including proliferating human neural stem cells with a doubling rate faster than thirty days. The invention also provides a cell culture media for proliferating mammalian neural cells including a standard defined culture medium, a carbohydrate source, a buffer, a source of hormones, one or more growth factors that stimulate the proliferation of neural stem cells, and LIF. The invention also provides a method for protecting, repairing or replacing damaged tissue comprising transplanting mammalian neural stem cells formed into neurospheres. The invention also provides a cell culture of differentiated human neural stem cells where the cells are glioblasts. The invention also provides a method of differentiating human neural stem cells in culture media.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of feeder cells (such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts) to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. Effective features are a suitable support structure for the cells, and an effective medium that can be added fresh to the culture without being preconditioned by another cell type. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell culture including proliferating human neural stem cells with a doubling rate faster than thirty days. The invention also provides a cell culture media for proliferating mammalian neural cells including a standard defined culture medium, a carbohydrate source, a buffer, a source of hormones, one or more growth factors that stimulate the proliferation of neural stem cells, and LIF. The invention also provides a method for protecting, repairing or replacing damaged tissue comprising transplanting mammalian neural stem cells formed into neurospheres. The invention also provides a cell culture of differentiated human neural stem cells where the cells are glioblasts. The invention also provides a method of differentiating human neural stem cells in culture media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising expanded definitive endoderm cells as well as methods for expanding definitive endoderm cells in culture.

Abstract: This invention provides populations of neural progenitor cells, differentiated neurons, glial cells, and astrocytes. The populations are obtained by culturing stem cell populations (such as embryonic stem cells) in a cocktail of growth conditions that initiates differentiation, and establishes the neural progenitor population. The progenitors can be further differentiated in culture into a variety of different neural phenotypes, including dopaminergic neurons. The differentiated cell populations or the neural progenitors can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of neurological disorders.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for obtaining genetically altered primate pluripotent stem (pPS) cells. The role of the feeder cells is replaced by supporting the culture on an extracellular matrix, and culturing the cells in a conditioned medium. The cells can be genetically altered with a viral vector or DNA/lipid complex, and then selected for successful transfection by drug-resistant phenotype in the transfected cells. The system allows for bulk proliferation of genetically altered pPS cells as important products for use in human therapy or drug screening.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for efficiently producing differentiated cells from pluripotent cells, such as human embryonic stem cells. Rather than permitting the cells to form embryoid bodies according to established techniques, differentiation is effected directly in monolayer culture on a suitable solid surface. The cells are either plated directly onto a differentiation-promoting surface, or grown initially on the solid surface in the absence of feeder cells and then exchanged into a medium that assists in the differentiation process. The solid surface and the culture medium can be chosen to direct differentiation down a particular pathway, generating a cell population that is remarkably uniform. The methodology is well adapted to bulk production of committed precursor and terminally differentiated cells for use in drug screening or regenerative medicine.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of feeder cells (such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts) to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. Effective features are a suitable support structure for the cells, and an effective medium that can be added fresh to the culture without being preconditioned by another cell type. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of feeder cells (such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts) to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. Effective features are a suitable support structure for the cells, and an effective medium that can be added fresh to the culture without being preconditioned by another cell type. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.

Abstract: This disclosure provides improved methods for obtaining populations of neural progenitor cells and differentiated neurons from pluripotent stem cells. The technology can be used to produce progenitors that proliferate through at least 40 doublings, while maintaining the ability to differentiate into a variety of different neural phenotypes. Cell populations have been obtained that contain a high proportion of cells staining for tyrosine hydroxylase, which is a feature of dopaminergic neurons. The neural progenitors and terminally differentiated neurons of this invention can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of clinically important neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a newly developed strategy and particular options for differentiating pluripotent stem cells into cells of the hepatocyte lineage. Many of the protocols are based on a strategy in which the cells are first differentiated into early germ layer cells, then into hepatocyte precursors, and then into mature cells. The cells obtained have morphological features and phenotypic markers characteristic of human adult hepatocytes. They also show evidence of cytochrome p450 enzyme activity, validating their utility for commercial applications such as drug screening, or use in the manufacture of medicaments and medical devices for clinical therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the effect of a biological agent comprising contacting a cell culture with a biological agent. The cell culture of the invention contains a culture medium containing one or more preselected growth factors effective for inducing multipotent central nervous system (CNS) neural stem cell proliferation. The cell culture also contains, suspended in the culture medium, human multipotent CNS neural stem cells that are derived from primary CNS neural tissue that have a doubling rate faster than 30 days.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell culture including proliferating human neural stem cells with a doubling rate faster than thirty days. The invention also provides a cell culture media for proliferating mammalian neural cells including a standard defined culture medium, a carbohydrate source, a buffer, a source of hormones, one or more growth factors that stimulate the proliferation of neural stem cells, and LIF. The invention also provides a method for protecting, repairing or replacing damaged tissue comprising transplanting mammalian neural stem cells formed into neurospheres. The invention also provides a cell culture of differentiated human neural stem cells where the cells are glioblasts. The invention also provides a method of differentiating human neural stem cells in culture media.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the effect of a biological agent comprising contacting a cell culture with a biological agent. The cell culture of the invention contains a culture medium containing one or more preselected growth factors effective for inducing multipotent central nervous system (CNS) neural stem cell proliferation. The cell culture also contains, suspended in the culture medium, human multipotent CNS neural stem cells that are derived from primary CNS neural tissue that have a doubling rate faster than 30 days.