Nanotechnological Regeneration of Spiral Ganglion Neurons with Human Stem Cells

描述(由申请人提供)：本建议书描述了一项为期5年的培训计划，旨在发展干细胞生物学和纳米技术医学领域的临床医生-科学家职业生涯。首席研究员现在是西北大学的助理教授，在那里他将通过独特的跨部门资源整合来扩展他的科学技能。这项计划将改善目前人工耳蜗植入技术的成果，最终将使全球2.75亿聋人恢复听力。 医学博士约翰·凯斯勒将指导主要研究人员的科学发展。凯斯勒博士是干细胞神经生物学领域公认的领导者。他是干细胞生物学的主任 并培养了许多博士后研究员和临床医生兼科学家。为了加强培训，该计划将征集西北大学生物纳米医学研究所(IBNAM)所长Samuel Stupp博士的专业知识。斯图普博士开创了纳米技术在医学上的应用。此外，斯坦福大学的斯特凡·海勒博士，毛细胞再生方面的领军人物，也将 提供科学和职业建议。 这项拟议的研究将整合我们目前对听觉神经元再生的理解。PI将首先建立一种方法，使用可扩散的配体和相关人类转录因子的过度表达来控制产生具有功能的人类胚胎干细胞(HESCs)来源的听觉神经元。在确立了这一目标后，PI将利用涉及纳米技术和神经营养因子的生物物理和生化相结合的方法，为hESC来源的听觉神经元开发适当的干细胞利基。PI非常幸运地位于西北大学的一个独特的研究所，在那里，人类多能干细胞(HPSC)核心设施和世界上最大的生物科技社区之一共存于一个学术机构。正是获得了这项技术，以及PI的导师的支持，这项拟议的工作才是可行的。 西北大学耳鼻喉科头颈外科通过将来自不同资源的专业知识整合到定制的课程中，为培训临床医生和科学家提供了理想的环境。这样的环境最大限度地增加了首席研究人员建立一个科学利基的潜力，可以在这个利基上建立学术生涯。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes a 5 year training program for the development of a clinician-scientist career in Stem Cell Biology and Nanotechnological Medicine. The principal investigator is now an assistant professor at Northwestern University where he will expand upon his scientific skills through a unique integration of interdepartmental resources. This program will improve outcome of current technology in a cochlear implant and it would ultimately benefit the 275 million deaf people worldwide for restoring their hearing. John Kessler, M.D. will mentor the principal investigators' scientific development. Dr. Kessler is a recognized leader in the field of stem cell neurobiology. He is the director of Stem Cell Biology Institute at Northwestern University and has trained numerous postdoctoral fellows and clinician-scientists. To enhance the training, the program will enlist the expertise of Dr. Samuel Stupp, Director of Institute of BioNanotechonology in Medicine (IBNAM) at Northwestern University. Dr. Stupp pioneered the Nanotechnological application in medicine. In addition, Dr. Stefan Heller at Stanford University, who is a leading scholar in hair-cell regeneration, will also provide scientific and career advice. The proposed study will integrate our current understanding of auditory neuron regeneration. The PI will first establish a method for the controlled generation of functional human embryonic stem cell (hESCs)-derived auditory neurons using diffusible ligands and overexpression of relevant human transcription factors. Having established this goal, The PI will then develop an appropriate stem cell niche for hESC-derived auditory neurons using a combined biophysical and biochemical approach involving nanotechnology and neurotrophic factors. The PI has the great fortune to be situated at a unique institute at Northwestern University, where both a human Pluripotent Stem Cell (hPSC) core facility and one of the largest bionanotechnology communities in the world co- exist in one academic institute. It is access to this technology and the support of PI's mentors, which makes this proposed work feasible. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Northwestern University provides an ideal setting for training clinician-scientists by incorporating expertise from diverse resources into customized programs. Such an environment maximizes the potential for the principal investigator to establish a scientific niche from which an academic career can be constructed.