Our team operates a dedicated Stem Cell Facility for the growth and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells and primary neural stem cells. Our facility ensures that the stem cells are pathogen-free and they have normal karyotypes. The stem cells are going through a repertoire of in vitro and in vivo assays of stem cell potency and function.

Areas of expertise include isolation, maintenance and differentiation of primary neural stem cells from mouse embryos, ES cell differentiation and lineage selection and in vitro generation of neural stem cells from ES. Our ES collection includes feeder-dependent and feeder-independent ES cell lines and G418-resistant primary embryonic feeder cells. Our interests focus on the establishment and maintenance of a stem cell identity and the factors that guide early developmental cell fate decisions with an emphasis on the nervous system. Routine gene expression analysis involves antibody techniques and RT-PCR.

In the years to come, our facility will move towards the standardisation of protocols for differentiating human embryonic and primary neural stem cells placing the emphasis of on translational and clinical research.