Faculty Coordinators:
Lee Rubin (HSCI)
Amy Wagers (SCRB)

Guest speakers:
Justin Ichida, PhD (Eggan Lab:  FAS/SCRB):  Reprogramming
Eunju Chung, PhD (Rubin Lab:  FAS/SCRB):  Neuronal differentiation
Greg Underhil, PhD (Bhatia Lab:  MIT):  Microtechnological approaches to differentiation

With work in stem cell pluripotency, adult cell reprogramming, and directed differentiation proceeding at a breathtaking pace, it is useful at this time to reflect on these advances and discuss what we have learned from them. Have there been surprises? What are the different ways somatic cells can be reprogrammed? Is the best path from a stem or progenitor cell to a differentiated cell the one followed in the developing embryo, or are there other paths that might be even better under the somewhat artificial cell culture conditions we all use?  What will the future look like in terms of the types of systems we can access? How will we try to derive cells in culture that resemble their in vivo counterparts as closely as possible?
 
To get the discussion started, our guest speakers will present insights from their most recent work.

Beer, wine and light refreshments will be available for the networking session which follows.

This is the final Stem Cell Salon of the 2009-2010 academic year.