X Close

UCL Translational Research Office Blog

Home

Menu

Early Career Researcher Interview: Characterizing an organoid model with the aim of rescuing the defective NARS1 gene using adeno-associated viral (AAV) therapy, Regenerative Medicine TIN

By Kristy Tsang, on 30 October 2023

In this interview as part of the Early Career Researchers series, recognising the amazing translational work being done by postdocs and non-tenured researchers at  UCL, Dr Stephanie Efthymiou highlights her Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Innovation Network (TIN) Pilot Data Scheme awarded project, developing a novel approach to treat the NARS1 disease. 

(more…)

Early Career Innovators: Investigating Medicine Encapsulation as a Painkiller, Regenerative Medicine TIN

By Alina Shrourou, on 30 May 2022

In this interview as part of the Early Career Innovators series, recognising the amazing translational work being done by postdocs and non-tenured researchers at University College London (UCL), Dr Olga Kopach highlights her Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Innovation Network (TIN) Pilot Data Fund awarded project, investigating the therapeutic potential of medicine encapsulation for treating chronic pain and nerve regeneration.  (more…)

Early Career Innovators: Cancer Safe Stem Cells for Lung Generation, Regenerative Medicine TIN

By Alina Shrourou, on 15 March 2022

In this interview as part of the Early Career Innovators series, recognising the amazing translational work being done by postdocs and non-tenured researchers at University College London (UCL), Dr Ariel Finkielsztein highlights his Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Innovation Network (TIN) Pilot Data Scheme awarded project involving the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for lung regeneration.  (more…)

Early Career Innovators: Cell Replacement Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease, Regenerative Medicine TIN

By Alina Shrourou, on 11 August 2021

In this Regenerative Medicine TIN interview as part of the Early Career Innovators series, recognising the amazing translational work being done by postdoc and non-tenured researchers within the UCL Therapeutic Innovation Networks (TINs), Dr Charlie Arber highlights his Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund awarded project, involving the potential of stem cells in Alzheimer’s. 

What is the title of your project and what does it involve?

The Regenerative Medicine TIN have supported my project titled “Cell therapy in Alzheimer’s disease”. This is a project to understand the potential of stem cell derived astrocytes in repairing the brain in the dementia. Astrocytes are brain support cells, capable of cleaning the brain and even replacing some of the cells that degenerate in disease.

The project will answer three questions:

  1. Can human astrocytes interact with mouse brain slice cultures?
  2. Can astrocytes change the inflammatory state of the brain?
  3. Can astrocytes sense and respond to amyloid (the main pathology in Alzheimer’s disease)?

What is the motivation behind your project/therapeutic?

There remain no therapies to slow, reverse or prevent dementia. In 100 years, how will we treat dementia? Possibly by replacing the cells that have degenerated? Like Luke Skywalker’s hand? This project is a first step to understand the value of astrocytes in cell replacement therapy in Alzheimer’s disease.

Can you highlight any challenges have you experienced as an early career researcher in the regenerative medicine/translational research space?

I am a basic scientist. I think understanding the importance of basic biology in translational science is under-appreciated. All basic scientists should have translational goals. This is the major impact of our work.

I have found keeping an eye on the larger picture and the long term goals a challenging aspect to my career. Small pilot grants such as the initiatives from the TINs have an invaluable role in supporting this type of research.

Why did you want to apply to the Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund?

It is often hard to generate the pilot data that is required to apply for large grants and fellowships. I applied to the Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Scheme to learn a new technique (organotypic slice culturing) that has enabled me to generate new data which will be central to my fellowship applications and my career progression.

Join the Regenerative Medicine TIN to be the first to hear about similar opportunities 

How did you find the process for the TIN Pilot Data Fund? What did you learn?

I found the application process straight forward. Before the dragon’s den style interview, we had interview/pitch training from a professional coach, provided through ACCELERATE. I received some really useful feedback, especially in conveying a message in just two slides and 5 minutes.

Learn more about the training offered through ACCELERATE Success

Since the project began, I have had useful experience in budgeting for a small grant and deadline management due to the short, 6 month nature of these projects (as well as COVID-related setbacks!).

What do you hope to achieve in the 6 months duration of your project?

Having had this opportunity and support from the Regenerative Medicine TIN, I have generated some interesting and exciting pilot data. I am now looking forward to building on these findings as a major thread of my research career. I really look forward to driving this research question forward.

About Dr Charlie Arber

Charlie Arber

Charlie Arber is a stem cell biologist. He has worked with human stem cells for 15 years, understanding the best ways to make brain cells in a dish and using stem cells from patients to investigate the earliest causes of dementia.

Charlie is a senior research fellow in the department of neurodegenerative disease at the Institute of Neurology. His current research focus is looking at the role of brain inflammation in early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Early Career Innovators: Spatial Transcriptomics to Better Understand Stem Cell-derived 3D Hepatospheres (3D Heps), Regenerative Medicine TIN

By Alina Shrourou, on 5 August 2021

In this Regenerative Medicine TIN interview as part of the Early Career Innovators series, recognising the amazing translational work being done by postdoc and non-tenured researchers within the UCL Therapeutic Innovation Networks (TINs), Dr Hassan Rashidi highlights his Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund awarded project, involving human stem cell-derived 3D hepatospheres (3D Heps) for liver diseases.

What is the title of your project and what does it involve?

The project’s title is “Dissecting the cross-talk between parenchymal and non-parenchymal derivatives within human pluripotent stem cell-derived 3D hepatospheres (3D Heps) using spatial transcriptomics”.

Previously, I developed a novel xeno-free protocol to generate 3D liver organoids suitable for clinical applications. I also formulated a new culture medium to stabilise the phenotype and function of 3D Heps for over a year in culture. In this project, I will use spatial transcriptomics to dissect the crosstalk between various populations of cells within the 3D Heps.

What is the motivation behind your project/therapeutic?

Liver diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for about 1–2 million deaths annually. To date, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only curative option for treatment of individuals with inherited liver disorders, end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure. However, donor organ shortage, allogeneic rejection and adverse effects associated with long-term immunosuppressant medication are major limitations.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent an attractive alternative source of hepatocytes, courtesy of their unlimited self-renewal capacity and potential to differentiate to all cell types found in the human body. Recently I developed a novel platform to generate 3D liver organoids exhibiting metabolic functionality for over a year in culture. In addition, therapeutic benefit of 3D Heps was demonstrated in a mouse model of inherited liver disease.

In the current project, I will perform spatial transcriptomic to gain a better understanding of the 3D Heps. In return, transcriptomic data will be used to further improve the platform to generate hepatocytes with superior functionalities and at scale for clinical applications.

Can you highlight any challenges have you experienced as an early career researcher in the regenerative medicine/translational research space?

While being fortunate to secure funding from several charities including Rosetrees Trust, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, Sparks and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, a major challenge is the limited number of funding for early career researchers since most funding calls only accept applications from established academics. This is more problematic when it comes to translational research as larger amount of funding is required. Lack of stability is another issue as an extended timeframe is expected for fruition of translational projects.

Why did you want to apply to the Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund?

Funding calls such as the Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund are the ideal source of funding for the early career researchers to generate the preliminary data required for larger grant applications such as fellowships. In addition, Blue-sky thinking is encouraged in schemes like the Regenerative Medicine TIN Pilot Data Fund, making it possible to test high-risk, high-gain projects that are typically deemed to be too adventurous.

Join the community and subscribe to the TINs newsletter to keep updated on when the next TIN funding calls open

How did you find the process for the TIN Pilot Data Fund?

The process was straightforward as the application form was short with a quick announcement of shortlisted candidates. In addition, ACCELERATE training was offered following the announcement to prepare shortlisted candidates for the Dragon Den-style interview, which I benefited from immensely. I also participated in the ACCELERATE-CASMI Mentoring workshop, which was very helpful.

What do you hope to achieve in the 6 months duration of your project?

The data from spatial transcriptomics will provide crucial insight to further improve the 3D Heps platform. Within the project’s duration, I will complete RNA sequencing of the libraries generated from liver organoids at various stages of differentiation. I will use the preliminary data to apply for additional funding to improve the platform and to develop new technologies to benefit from tremendous potential of 3D Heps for in vitro and in vivo applications.

Dr Hassan Rashidi

Hassan Rashidi headshot

Dr Hassan Rashidi is a Senior Research Associate at UCL Institute of Child Health. Dr Rashidi’s academic career has been driven by a strong interest in stem cell biology and the development of new technologies to harness the tremendous potential of human pluripotent stem cells for clinical and industrial applications.

His current focus is on development of in vitro and in vivo platforms to evaluate liver toxicity and treat liver disease, respectively.