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SUMMARY:Stem Cell-based Modelling and Restoration of Neuromuscular Circuit
 s - Dr Ivo Lieberam\, Senior Lecturer\, Centre for Stem Cells and Regenera
 tive Medicine\, King's College London
DTSTART:20200227T110000Z
DTEND:20200227T120000Z
UID:TALK139435@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Kirsty Shepherd
DESCRIPTION:Neuromuscular circuits in vitro: Medical conditions that affec
 t muscle function and/or its neuronal control represent some of the most c
 ommon debilitating disorders\, which are typically studied in rodent model
 s in vivo. Current animal models of neuromuscular disease suffer from seve
 ral limitations\, such as high costs of transgenic animals and genetic dif
 ferences between rodents and humans. We have developed a stem cell-based t
 issue culture model of neuromuscular circuitry to study nerve-muscle conne
 ctivity. The cellular components (motor neurons\, astrocytes\, and muscle)
  are derived separately from stem cells in vitro\, magnetically purified a
 nd assembled in compartmentalized tissue culture devices that segregate th
 e cell bodies of neural cells from muscle fibres\, yet allow motor axons t
 o fully differentiate and connect to their synaptic targets. Motor neurons
  are equipped with genetically encoded optogenetic actuators\, enabling th
 eir selective activation without mechanical interference. We are initially
  focusing on modelling the cellular pathology of motor neuron disease in a
 rtificial neuromuscular circuits and hope to exploit the system for drug s
 creening.\n\nOptogenetic control of muscle function: We are developing opt
 ogenetic neural grafts capable of linking an optoelectronic control system
  to host muscle. The long-term aim is to restore motor function and treat 
 paralysis in patients suffering from spinal cord injury or neuromuscular d
 isease with an implantable neural prosthesis. The idea is to use grafted o
 ptogenetic motor neurons derived from stem cells\, embedded in a stem cell
 -derived glial scaffold\, as a body-machine interface between an optoelect
 ronic pacemaker device and recipient skeletal muscle. Due to the photosens
 itivity of the graft\, muscle contractions can then be specifically trigge
 red by light signals transmitted to the graft via implanted micro-LEDs. In
  a recent proof-of-principle study\, my group and collaborators have shown
  that such peripherally implanted optogenetic motor neuron grafts can not 
 only survive and extend axons to successfully re-innervate denervated musc
 les\, but can also relay rhythmic contraction patterns from an artificial 
 control system to skeletal muscle in vivo. While such a device\, once full
 y developed\, would not offer a cure for spinal cord injury or ALS\, the q
 uality of life for affected patients could be dramatically improved by res
 toring vital motor functions\, such as breathing.\n
LOCATION:Electrical Engineering\, Department of Engineering - EED Seminar 
 Room - 9 JJ Thomson Avenue\, Cambridge\, CB3 0FA
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