Selin Flor Rose Hills
Determining Differences in iPSC Lines’ Differentiation Efficiency
An important problem in the medical field today is the limited number of transplanted livers which are necessary to treat end-stage liver disease. One potential solution to the finite number of liver donations is the generation of liver organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Advanced three-dimensional (3D) cell culture techniques, such as organoid formation, may overcome any inherent differences between iPSC cell line differentiation efficiency, thus consistently promote development of highly functional mature cells. My project aims to determine the differentiation efficiency of three different iPSC lines into mature hepatic organoids. I hypothesize that whereas there will be differences in the differentiation efficiency between each iPSC line as monolayers, the differentiation efficiency of each line as liver organoids will be consistently high and superior to monolayer differentiation. The results of my SURF project will determine the generalizability of the functional performance of self-assembled organoids developed by the Chang Laboratory for Liver Tissue Engineering and advance the development of iPSC-derived liver organoids toward clinical therapeutic applications.
Message To Sponsor
I am extremely grateful to the Donor for supporting me in my research project this summer. Moreover, I am excited to delve into the world of stem cells and tissue engineering through a summer of research that has been made possible by the Donor's financial support. I can only look forward to how this opportunity will contribute to my long-term academic and professional goals.