Dr. Peng Jiang Seminar | Department of Biomedical Engineering

SPEAKER:
Peng Jiang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Rutgers University

TITLE:
Modeling Down Syndrome Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

ABSTRACT:
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic origin of intellectual disability and is the single most common risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Also called Trisomy 21, this condition occurs when an individual has 3 copies of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). The additional genetic material causes impairment in cognitive ability and physical growth and is often associated with other complications ranging from cardiac defects to hearing and vision problems. Most physical symptoms of DS can now be treated or alleviated, but there are no effective treatments that improve cognitive function. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has provided a new approach to the establishment of human cellular models for studying the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. We have generated human iPSCs directly from DS patients and differentiated them to patients’ own brain cells. Moreover, we have established 2-dimensional (2D) stem cell neural differentiation model, 3D cerebral organoid model as well as in vivo human chimeric mouse brain model to study the disease mechanisms and develop novel therapeutics.

BIO:
I obtained a PhD in Neuroscience and Biophysics at the University of Science and Technology of China. I did my postdoctoral work on developing stem cell regenerative medicine and stem cell models of neurodevelopmental disorders at the University of California, Davis. Thus, I have a broad background in neuroscience, with specific expertise in neurophysiology and unique interdisciplinary training at the interface of stem cell biology and neurobiology. I started my own lab at Rutgers in 2017. Currently, the goal of my lab is to dissect the development pathways and corresponding pathogenesis of neurological diseases using human iPSCs, and develop stem cell regenerative medicine to treat brain injury.