Su-Chun Zhang M.D., Wenzhou Medical College PhD, University of Saskatchewan Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurology Contact Information Waisman Center UW-Madison 1500 Highland Avenue Madison, WI 53705 608-265-2543 608-263-5267 (fax) E-mail: zhang@waisman.wisc.edu Web: http://www.news.wisc.edu/packages/stemcells/

The remarkable developmental potential and replicative capacity of human embryonic stem (ES) cells promise an almost unlimited supply of specific cell types for transplant therapies. Key to this powerful application is the differentiation and isolation of specific cell lineages from pluripotent ES cells. Our laboratory focuses on the neural pathway of ES cell differentiation. We have established an in vitro model of ES cell differentiation to neuroepithelial cells, which are organized in a neural tube-like structure. Using this system, we ask what controls neuroepithelial specification from ES cells and how the neuroepithelia organize into a neural tube. We will then examine whether a regionally specific neural cell type can be patterned in vitro by dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal signals. We are particularly interested in the ventral neural cell types, e.g., retinal ganglion neurons, midbrain dopamine neurons, spinal cord motoneurons and myelinating oligodendrocytes. The ES cell-derived neural cells will be evaluated for their therapeutic potential in animal models including monkey models for spinal cord injury (neuroepithelia) and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (dopamine neurons), ALS (motoneurons) and MS (oligodendrocytes). Zhang S-C, Wernig M, Duncan ID, Brüstle O, Thomson JA (2001): In vitro differentiation of transplantable neural precursors from human embryonic stem cells. submitted. Zhang S-C, Duncan ID (2000): Remyelination and restoration of axonal function by glial cell transplantation. Prog. Brain Res., 127:515-533. Zhang S-C, Ge B, Duncan ID (1999): Adult brain retains the potential to generate oligodendroglial progenitors with extensive myelination capacity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96: 4089-4094. Bulte JWM, Zhang S-C, van Gelderen P, Herynek V, Jordan EK, Duncan ID, Frank JA (1999): Neurotransplantation of magnetically labeled oligodendrocyte progenitors: MR tracking of cell migration and myelination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96: 15256-15261. Click to search National Library of Medicine and PubMed for other publications by Dr. Zhang Full Publication List

Last updated 7/3/2004 by rowley@waisman.wisc.edu