IPSC Core

SUMMARY FOR iPSC CORE The Yale ADRC seeks cell biological understanding of neural cell dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) with the long-term goal of identifying new targets for successful therapeutic intervention across population groups. Mechanistic knowledge and hypothesis testing at the cellular and molecular level are required. We propose a new Core in our Center to promote cell biological studies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)- derived neural cells. This approach utilizes human cells to increase translational relevance and allows assessment across varied genetic backgrounds. While cellular assays are by their nature reductionist, when designed with care they can accurately model specific endophenotypes of AD, including cellular responses and cell-cell interactions triggered by disease-associated aggregates. Our iPSC Core will deliver live, differentiated and well-characterized mature cultures of iPSC-derived neural cells to local research teams for numerous investigator-initiated studies. Specifically, we will establish a collection of well-characterized iPSC lines within the Yale ADRC iPSC Core and deposit new lines at NCRAD. The Core will then distribute live cultures of human iPSC-derived neural cells for AD research. Protocols to differentiate iPSC lines into cortical excitatory neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and inhibitory neurons, as well as cortical organoids will be standardized. The Core will also support implementation and optimization of cell-based AD endophenotype assays. An additional goal will be to facilitate training in iPSC-derived neural cell use for AD research.