This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations of neurological disorders. For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess susceptibility of developing Parkinson's disease.

The present invention relates to a differentiation method for obtaining a large quantity of microglia by patterning, proliferating, culturing, and inducing the differentiation of yolk sac-mimic 3D organoids prepared from human pluripotent stem cells, wherein the microglia thus obtained in a large quantity exhibit significantly superior effects in terms of yield, purity, and storage stability compared to cells differentiated by existing differentiation methods, and thus may be utilized in research on lesions and therapeutic mechanisms of brain diseases, and drug screening platforms.

The present application provides a pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal culture system for use in modeling neurodegenerative diseases, drug screening and target discovery; and methods of generating homogenous, terminally differentiated neuronal culture from pluripotent stem cells, and compositions resulting thereof; as well as automated cell culture systems that sustain long-term differentiation, maturation and/or growth of neuronal cells for use in modeling neurodegenerative diseases.

The present disclosure provides methods of preparing a biological specimen for imaging analysis, comprising fixing and clearing the biological specimen and subsequently analyzing the cleared biological specimen using microscopy. Also included are methods of quantifying cells, for example, active populations of cells in response to a stimulant. The present disclosure also provides devices for practicing the described methods. A flow-assisted clearing device provides rapid clearing of hydrogel-embedded biological specimens without the need of specialized equipment such as electrophoresis or perfusion devices.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for promoting the degradation of misfolded proteins and protein aggregates. The compositions and methods may be used to treat a disorder associated with misfolded proteins or protein aggregates. In certain instances, the compositions and methods relate to modulators of one or more TRIM proteins or one or more STUbLs.

The present invention provides a nerve cell device in which early observation of nerve activity (spikes, bursts, and the like) is made possible and the measured electric strength is increased by cultivating neurons upon a cell scaffold. By using this nerve cell device, imaging of intracellular signaling is also possible.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods of identifying pharmacophores and inhibitors against protein aggregation. The present disclosure also provides pharmacophores themselves and medical uses of agents in the treatment of diseases associated with protein aggregation.

Materials and methods for cell-mimetics having mechanical properties of biological neural axons are provided. A cell-mimetic device includes an array of fibers comprised of hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) or an HDDA derivative, and at least one derivative of polyethylene glycol (PEG) selected from the group consisting of: PEG-acrylate, PEG-diacrylate, and any multi-arm PEG-acrylate.

Compositions and methods are provided for decreasing processing of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG) in treatment of gliomas, which treatment may be combined with administration of an immune-oncology agent.

Provided herein are methods and agents for modulating the signaling pathway and components thereof that are responsible for assembly and disassembly of synapses in neurons, including amyloid beta (Aβ) mediated synaptotoxicity and synapse loss. Also provided herein are methods for screening and identifying candidate agents capable of modulating synapse formation and (Aβ) mediated synaptotoxicity.