National Institute of Mental Health Director Thomas Insel, MD, recently interviewed Stanford neurobiologist Ricardo Dolmetsch, PhD, about his autism research involving induced pluripotent stem cells, which are created by reprogramming the gene expression patterns of specialized adult cells. In the video, Dolmetsch explains how he and colleagues devised a technique that allowed them to generate stem cells from children with autism and use these cells to create miniature brains in the lab. He also discusses how researchers are using this method to study brain function in children with autism and develop new therapeutics.
Previously: Valentine's Day in a dish: heart cells made from skin cells help study, treat disease, Stanford Magazine spotlights scientists' efforts to untangle the root causes of autism and Research on autism is moving in the right direction
Via Left Brain/Right Brain
