[Legacy Report] AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF NEURAL DIFFERENTIATION: A MODEL FOR ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

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AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF NEURAL DIFFERENTIATION: A MODEL FOR ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES
Pranela Rameshwar, Ph.D.
http://njms.rutgers.edu/rameshwaR
ABSTRACT. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are in clinical trials for a variety
of disorders and thus far, there is no report of deleterious effect. Early
studies suggested that MSCs were mesodermal in origin. However, more
recent studies seem to indicate that MSCs could be neuroectodermal in
origin. This origin would explain why MSCs can form functional neurons with
ease. MSCs are proposed for several medical indications, mostly due to
reduced ethical concerns, ease in expansion, ability to be transplanted
across allogeneic barrier (off-the-shelf) and plasticity. Indications include,
but are not limited to therapy for inflammation, tissue repair, protection from
tissue damage and neuronal disorder. Despite the therapeutic promise for
MSCs, there are variations in the data among and within labs. This hindrance
appears to be mostly due to the lack of a consensus to expand MSCs. Studies
will be presented on the potential treatment of spinal cord and traumatic
brain injury with MSCs and the utility of zebrafish in these studies. The
seminar will discuss the application for MSCs with regards to neuronal
differentiation and explain how this could be an advantage to bypass the
major safety issue on MSCs’ involvement in tumors.
SPEAKER BIO. Dr. Rameshwar is a professor of medicine in the Division of
Hematology and Oncology at New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Rutgers.
She received a B.S. degree in medical microbiology from the University of
Wisconsin at Madison and a Ph.D. in biology from Rutgers University, New
Jersey. Dr. Rameshwar performed postdoctoral studies in hematopoiesis at
New Jersey Medical School. She started as a faculty member at New Jersey
Medical School in 1995. Dr. Rameshwar’s research interest is in stem cell
biology. Her laboratory also studies breast cancer dormancy with a focus on cancer stem cells; neural
regulation of hematopoiesis, the immunology of adult human mesenchymal stem cells, and clinical
application of mesenchymal stem cells. Her research continues to be funded by federal, state, and other
agencies. Dr. Rameshwar has authored 200 publications, including original articles, reviews, editorials and
book chapters. Dr. Rameshwar is also a university Master Educator. Dr. Rameshwar is the editor-in-chief of
the international, peer-reviewed journal Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy.

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