Stem Cells and Neural Development Group

Our research is focused on using human stem cells to model neurological diseases and develop new therapies. We are particularly interested in understanding and modeling human neural development, as mimicking these processes could help improve recovery and regeneration.

Our group is working on techniques to control the fate of human stem cells into defined neuronal populations that can be used in neural transplantation. We are also developing methods to ensure that these stem cell-derived transplants effectively integrate, function and remain safe when used to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

Alongside this, our group uses stem cells from patients with Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease to create advanced models that helps us to better understand these conditions and develop new drug therapies.

About our research

In our group, we are working on several important research topics, including:

  • Improving our understanding of neural development;
  • Molecular mechanisms underpinning axonal plasticity
  • Establishing protocols for directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells;
  • The use of stem-cell derived neurons for cell transplantation
  • Strategies to improve neural graft integration, function and safety
  • Bioengineering scaffolds to support neural transplants
  • Modelling human neurodegenerative diseases using stem cells

Research interests

  • Stem cell therapies
  • Neural development
  • Neural transplantation
  • Bioengineering
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Stroke
  • Motor Neuron Disease

Techniques

  • Human stem cell culturing
  • Neural transplantation
  • Biomaterials/Materials engineering

 

 

Research team

Research team head

Professor Clare Parish

Professor Clare Parish

Group Head

Team members

Research fellows

  • Dr Cameron Hunt
  • Dr Niamh Moriarty
  • Dr Dad Abu-Bonsrah
  • Dr Dmitry Ovhinnikov

Research and technical staff

  • Brianna Xuereb

PhD students

  • Kevin Law
  • Chiara Pavan
  • Jennifer Lin
  • Andrew Quattrocchi

Master students

  • Shannon Wang

Honours students

  • Anna Urokohara

 

Publications

  • Gantner, C.W., de Luzy, I.R., Kauhausen, J.A., Moriarty, N., Niclis, J.C., Bye, C.R., Penna, V., Hunt, C.P.J., Ermine, C.M., Pouton, C.W., Kirik, D., Thompson, L.H. and Parish, C.L. (2020). Viral Delivery of GDNF Promotes Functional Integration of Human Stem Cell Grafts in Parkinson’s Disease. Cell Stem Cell, 26(4), pp.511-526.e5. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2020.01.010.
  • de Luzy, I.R., Law, K.C.L., Moriarty, N., Hunt, C.P.J., Durnall, J.C., Thompson, L.H., Nagy, A. and Parish, C.L. (2021). Human stem cells harboring a suicide gene improve the safety and standardisation of neural transplants in Parkinsonian rats. Nature Communications, 12(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23125-9.
  • Hunt, C.P.J., Penna, V., Gantner, C.W., Moriarty, N., Wang, Y., Franks, S., Ermine, C.M., Luzy, I.R., Pavan, C., Long, B.M., Williams, R.J., Thompson, L.H., Nisbet, D.R. and Parish, C.L. (2021). Tissue Programmed Hydrogels Functionalized with GDNF Improve Human Neural Grafts in Parkinson’s Disease. Advanced Functional Materials, 31(47), p.2105301. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202105301.
  • Moriarty, N., Gantner, C.W., Hunt, C.P.J., Ermine, C.M., Frausin, S., Viventi, S., Ovchinnikov, D.A., Kirik, D., Parish, C.L. and Thompson, L.H. (2022). A combined cell and gene therapy approach for homotopic reconstruction of midbrain dopamine pathways using human pluripotent stem cells. Cell Stem Cell, [online] 29(3), pp.434-448.e5. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2022.01.013.

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Contact us

Professor Clare Parish

Group Head
[email protected]