 Establishing self-organizing 3D cerebral organoids from pluripotent stem cells THESIS TOPIC PROPOSAL Institute: University of Szeged biology Doctoral School of Biology Thesis supervisor: Melinda Pirity Location of studies (in Hungarian): Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Group, Institute of Genetics, Biological Researche Centre Abbreviation of location of studies: SZBK Description of the research topic: The most recently developed organoid model systems enable more accurate investigation of developmental processes. With them, the steps of differentiation, thus the molecular and cellular biological processes leading to healthy and diseased development can be studied in a three-dimensional space. The aim of the project is three-dimensional modelling of the phylogenetically newest part of the cerebral cortex, the neocortex, in a stem cell-based system. The neocortex differentiates into six horizontal layers, and the formation of these layers can be easily followed in three-dimensional organoid cultures. We are looking for a motivated PhD student who would contribute to the creation of mouse cortical organoids in our laboratory. The long-term goal of the project is to learn about the role of a specific gene in the stratification of the cerebral cortex using these organoid models. This gene has been previously characterised in our laboratory in vivo, in mouse and in two dimensional stem cell based model systems. The specific goals of the project are: (1) differentiation of wild-type mouse stem cells into cortical organoids (2) creation of cortical organoids from mutant stem cells and examine the stratification of the neocortex (3) comparative studies of wild-type and mutant organoids using cell and molecular biological methods (in vitro differentiation, protein and RNA level analysis, fluorescence immunocytochemistry, microscopic and comparative studies based on OMICs). Methods: stem cell cultivation, in vitro differentiation, Western-blot analysis, Fluorescent immunocytochemistry, RNA isolation, Reverse transcription, Real-time PCR. Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1 Deadline for application: 2024-12-31 |