News

March 21, 2024:  Lian lab has published a new paper on stem cell programming via SOX17 and FGF2.

Highlights:

  • scRNA-seq analysis of EPs identifies differential expression of three SOXF factors
  • Overexpression of SOX17 can enhance CHIR99021-mediated EP differentiation
  • Overexpression of SOX17 alone is sufficient to generate 50% CD34+VEC+ EPs
  • FGF2 can enhance EP programming via SOX17, yielding 90% CD31+CD34+VEC+ EPs

Paper Link: Direct programming of human pluripotent stem cells into endothelial progenitors with SOX17 and FGF2

 

February 22, 2024:  Dr.Lian was invited to 2024 CfB FacultyXchange meeting to give a talk on stem cell engineering at Barron Innovation Hub, PA.

February 14, 2024:  Dr.Lian was invited to Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine to give a talk on MAGIK method for rapid and efficient gene knockin in human pluripotent stem cells.

 

August 2, 2023New publication.  Through collaboration with the Shi lab, we have developed three novel drug-selectable constructs for producing gas vesicles (GVs) in human cells. Our new drug-selectable acoustic reporter gene (ARG) technology could accelerate progress in medical ultrasound imaging research and potentially enhancing patient care. Alessandro and Phoebe are the first authors of this paper.  Congratulations!

June 23, 2023New publication.  Through collaboration with the Guan lab, the Self-digitization Through Automated Membrane-based Partitioning (STAMP) method has been developed to provide absolute, amplification-free quantification of HIV-1 viral RNAs, offering an alternative to the standard RT-qPCR technique for tracking disease progression and antiretroviral therapy effectiveness. Utilizing a membrane that partitions small amounts of reaction mixture, STAMP can rapidly quantify RNA samples across a wide dynamic range. Testing demonstrated that the device can detect as few as 2000 copies/mL and differentiate a viral load change of 3571 copies/mL with 90% confidence.

 

May 4, 2023: Congratulations to Hayley for passing comprehensive exam!

May 3, 2023: Congratulations to Thomas for passing comprehensive exam!

April, 2023New publication. Through collaboration with Bao lab at Purdue University, we have successfully generated CAR-Neutrophils from hPSCs for the purpose of treating glioblastoma.

August, 2021New publication. Congratulations to Yuqian for publishing a paper in Stem Cell Reports!

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived pancreatic progenitors (PPs) provide promising cell therapies for type 1 diabetes. Current PP differentiation requires a high amount of Activin A during the definitive endoderm (DE) stage, making it economically difficult for commercial ventures.

Here we identify a dose-dependent role for Wnt signaling in controlling DE differentiation without Activin A. While high-level Wnt activation induces mesodermal formation, low-level Wnt activation by a small-molecule inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3 is sufficient for DE differentiation, yielding SOX17+FOXA2+ DE cells. BMP inhibition further enhances this DE differentiation, generating over 87% DE cells. These DE cells could be further differentiated into PPs and functional β cells. RNA-sequencing analysis of PP differentiation from hPSCs revealed expected transcriptome dynamics and new gene regulators during our small-molecule PP differentiation protocol. Overall, we established a robust growth-factor-free protocol for generating DE and PP cells, facilitating scalable production of pancreatic cells for regenerative applications.

 

May 2021:  Dr. Lian is promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

August, 2020:  Alessandro, Tahir, Michael, Xuyue, and Majeed joined the lab. Welcome!

June, 2020:  Lauren defened her dissertation. Congrats!

March, 2020:  Dr. Lian received the NSF CAREER Award!

December 11, 2019:  Lauren presented her research at the annual ASCB|EMBO meeting this December!

November 01, 2019:  Dr. Lian was selected as a recipent of the CMBE Rising Star Award!

November 01, 2019:  Congratulations to Lauren for publishing a paper in Scientific Reports!

October 16-19, 2019:  Lauren and Dr. Lian presented at BMES!

June 26-29, 2019:  Lauren presented a poster at ISSCR

November 30, 2018:  Congratulations to Yuqian for publishing a paper in iScience!

September 1, 2018:  Congrats to Agamoni and Lauren on their review paper in Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine!

May 3, 2018:  Lauren is selected as Participating Young Scientist for 2018 Lindau Meeting!

April 4, 2018:  Lauren receives Harold K. Schilling Dean’s Graduate Scholarship!

February, 2018:  Lian Lab is awarded NIH Trailblazer Grant.

May 8, 2017:  Congratulations to Lauren for publishing in Scientific Reports!

October 21, 2016:  Dr. Lian receives the Young Innovator Award at BMES