Nanotechnological Regeneration of Spiral Ganglion Neurons with Human Stem Cells

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案描述了一个为期5年的培训计划，用于发展干细胞生物学和纳米技术医学的临床医生-科学家职业生涯。首席研究员现在是西北大学的助理教授，他将通过跨部门资源的独特整合来扩展他的科学技能。该计划将改善目前人工耳蜗植入技术的成果，并最终使全球2.75亿聋人受益，以恢复他们的听力。 John Kessler，医学博士将指导主要研究者的科学发展Kessler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 研究所在西北大学，并培养了许多博士后研究员和临床科学家。为了加强培训，该计划将争取博士塞缪尔斯图普，医学生物纳米技术研究所（IBNAM）在西北大学主任的专业知识。Stupp博士开创了纳米技术在医学中的应用。此外，斯坦福大学的Stefan Heller博士是毛细胞再生领域的主要学者，他也将 提供科学和职业建议。 这项研究将整合我们目前对听觉神经元再生的理解。PI将首先建立一种使用可扩散配体和相关人类转录因子的过表达来控制功能性人类胚胎干细胞（hESC）衍生的听觉神经元的生成的方法。在确立了这一目标后，PI将使用涉及纳米技术和神经营养因子的生物物理和生物化学相结合的方法，为hESC衍生的听觉神经元开发适当的干细胞生态位。PI有幸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纳米技术社区之一共存于一个学术研究所。正是由于获得了这项技术和PI导师的支持，才使得这项拟议的工作可行。 西北大学耳鼻咽喉头颈外科系通过将来自不同资源的专业知识融入定制课程，为培训临床医生科学家提供了理想的环境。这样的环境最大限度地发挥了主要研究者的潜力，以建立一个科学的利基，从学术生涯可以构建。

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.