Jan Jensen

Equity Interest - Non-publicly traded entity ( e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest)

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Kidney Cell Lineages

The kidney is a multifaceted organ consisting of multiple cell types that have to work together to generate urine and retain biologically important substances such as water and ions. While many aspects of these processes are well understood, we are so far - due to the complexity of the processes taking place in vivo - unable to mimic the functions of the kidney using artificial devices. Thus, it is generally believed that any approach to replace kidney function will have to integrate in some way kidney cells. To avoid host immune responses and rejection, the cells should be ideally derived from the patient him/herself. However, conditions to generate the right cell types in sufficient amounts and purity are currently unavailable. In this proposal we will address this critical need. We will use state-of-th-art technology using a robotic- operated cell culture system coupled to a sophisticated software interface to identify conditions that allow the in vitro generation of multiple kidney cell types. e will then characterize those cells for their ability to perform some of the critical functions performed by the healthy kidney and even assemble them into kidney-like structures. Upon successful completion, the project will provide novel insights to resolve this important medical need for patients suffering from debilitating kidney diseases.