Provided is a method for preventing or treating a retinal degenerative disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof human neural crest-derived nasal inferior turbinate stem cells as an active ingredient, in which the stem cells are differentiated into rod photoreceptor cells among photoreceptor cells expressing rhodopsin and prevent or treat a retinal degenerative disease including age-related macular degeneration.

Provided herein are, in various embodiments, methods and compositions for differentiating olfactory mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSC). In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides for media to differentiate OM-MSCs. In still further embodiments, the disclosure provides for methods and compositions using differentiated OM-MSCs for the treatment of nerve repair. In particular embodiments, the disclosure provides for novel treatments of peripheral nerve repair.

Provided herein are, in various embodiments, methods and compositions for differentiating olfactory mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSC). In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides for media to differentiate OM-MSCs. In still further embodiments, the disclosure provides for methods and compositions using differentiated OM-MSCs for the treatment of nerve repair. In particular embodiments, the disclosure provides for novel treatments of peripheral nerve repair.

The disclosure provides a biological brain-computer interface comprising genetically modified cells engrafted onto an adult mammal (e.g., mouse) above cortical layer 1, forming an artificial cortical layer termed layer zero (L0). Following engraftment, L0 goes through a developmental process characterized by synchronous waves of activity that gradually recede to resemble spontaneous cortical activity. Axons and dendrites from L0 nondestructively infiltrated the host cortex and formed synaptic connections necessary for bidirectional communication with the brain.

The disclosure provides a biological brain-computer interface comprising genetically modified cells engrafted onto an adult mammal (e.g., mouse) above cortical layer 1, forming an artificial cortical layer termed layer zero (L0). Following engraftment, L0 goes through a developmental process characterized by synchronous waves of activity that gradually recede to resemble spontaneous cortical activity. Axons and dendrites from L0 nondestructively infiltrated the host cortex and formed synaptic connections necessary for bidirectional communication with the brain.

The present specification provides a method of producing induced functional astrocytes (iAs) from human pluripotent stem cells substantially more rapidly than previously achieved. These iAs express biomarkers and have functional characteristics typical of natural astrocytes. The iAs are useful in the exploration of astrocyte biology, pathophysiology, and in models of neurologic diseases and disorders.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods of inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into enteric nitrergic neurons, and enteric nitrergic neurons produced by such methods. Also provided are used of such enteric nitrergic neurons for screening potential therapeutic agents suitable for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders, such as gastroparesis, esophageal achalasia, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and applications of such enteric nitrergic neurons in regenerative medicine, such as cell transplantation therapy, for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods of inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into enteric nitrergic neurons, and enteric nitrergic neurons produced by such methods. Also provided are used of such enteric nitrergic neurons for screening potential therapeutic agents suitable for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders, such as gastroparesis, esophageal achalasia, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and applications of such enteric nitrergic neurons in regenerative medicine, such as cell transplantation therapy, for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders.

The present invention provides a method for producing a retinal progenitor cell, including (1) a first step of subjecting pluripotent stem cells to floating culture in a serum-free medium to form an aggregate of pluripotent stem cells, and (2) a second step of subjecting the aggregate formed in step (1) to floating culture in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium each being free of a substance acting on the Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway but containing a substance acting on the BMP signal transduction pathway, thereby obtaining an aggregate containing retinal progenitor cells.

The present invention provides a method for producing a retinal progenitor cell, including (1) a first step of subjecting pluripotent stem cells to floating culture in a serum-free medium to form an aggregate of pluripotent stem cells, and (2) a second step of subjecting the aggregate formed in step (1) to floating culture in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium each being free of a substance acting on the Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway but containing a substance acting on the BMP signal transduction pathway, thereby obtaining an aggregate containing retinal progenitor cells.