Core H: iPSC Core

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

iPSC CORE - CORE H: PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) Core of the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (JHADRC) is included as a core for the first time, as part of this renewal application. The iPSC Core (Core H) has several overarching goals. It is responsible for maintaining a repository of stem cell lines for ADRD research that have been accumulated and maintained over many years, sharing these stem cells with investigators conducting research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) both locally and nationally, and providing expertise and training to investigators conducting stem cell research at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). To accomplish these goals, the iPSC Core will focus on the following aims: (1) to provide a repository of existing stem cell lines for ADRD research; this repository currently contains 47 iPSC lines that include: (a) isogenic iPSC lines representing the dominant AD mutations, (b) isogenic lines for the range of APOE variants, (c) iPSC lines generated from well-characterized research participants who have been followed to autopsy, and (d) iPSC lines from living JHADRC participants with a range of diagnoses; (2) to work with Cores B, F and G to assure that blood is collected for generation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from selected biomarker-characterized JHADRC participants, so that it may be possible to expand the collection of particularly useful cell lines in the future; (3) to provide training and support resources to JHU investigators to foster ADRD stem cell research; and (4) to share stem cell lines from participants with unique characteristics with NCRAD so that they can be made available to the wider research community. Through these efforts, Core H strives to: (1) support investigators associated with the JHADRC with these key resources, 2) provide training to investigators at JHU working with iPSCs in ADRD research, and (3) broaden the research that is underway at JHU and elsewhere seeking to use iPSCs to further understand disease pathogenesis, and contribute to the discovery of mechanistic targets and pathways that will potentially broaden the development of new treatments for ADRD.