The present invention relates to a non-viral iPSCs induction method as well as the compositions, kits and iPSCs obtained therefrom. More specifically, the induction method comprises the following steps: 1) Constructing a recombinant plasmid by introducing the DNA sequences expressing the reprogramming factors POU5F1, SOX2, GLIS1, KLF4, MYCL and hsa-miR-302s into an episomal vector; 2) Obtaining iPSCs by introducing the recombinant plasmids obtained in step 1) into human somatic cells, and reprogramming induction culture of the cells. The method reduces the risk of clinical applications of iPSCs by using a combination of highly-safe reprogramming factors without the introduction of high-risk reprogramming factors such as c-MYC, SV40-LT and TP53 inhibitors; The method is highly applicable.

The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions for expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and providing hematopoietic function to human patients in need thereof. In one aspect, it relates to kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist. Also provided herein are methods for expanding the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells using kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist. The hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells expanded using the disclosed kits, compositions and methods include human umbilical cord blood stem/progenitor cells, placental cord blood stem/progenitor cells and peripheral blood stem cells. The present invention also relates to administering hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells expanded using a combination of a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist to a patient for short-term and/or long-term in vivo repopulation benefits.

The present disclosure provides method of generating cardiomyocytes from post-natal fibroblasts. The present disclosure further provides cells and compositions for use in generating cardiomyocytes.

Disclosed herein are compositions of transcription activator-like effectors transcription factors and methods of using said compositions for inducing gene expression of mammalian genes.

In related-art methods of differentiating pluripotent stem cells into a desired cell type, there has not been established a differentiation induction method using human ES/iPS cells and being highly efficient. Many attempts have been made, including a stepwise differentiation induction method based on the control of culture conditions or the addition of, for example, various cell growth factors/differentiation factors to a culture solution, but the use of complicated culture steps is a big problem. A method of inducing differentiation into a desired cell type within a short period of time and with high efficiency by use of a pluripotent stem cell that actively undergoes cell differentiation, which is obtained by reducing an undifferentiated state of the pluripotent stem cell, has been developed, and thus the present invention has been completed.

Provided are methods and compositions for tissue engineering including methods and compositions for the generation of vascularized organoids in vitro.

Methods, compositions and kits for producing functional neurons, astroctyes, oligodendrocytes and progenitor cells thereof are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in producing neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and progenitor cells thereof for transplantation, for experimental evaluation, as a source of lineage- and cell-specific products, and the like, for example for use in treating human disorders of the CNS. Also provided are methods, compositions and kits for screening candidate agents for activity in converting cells into neuronal cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and progenitor cells thereof.

Compositions and provided to induce cells of the inner ear to renter the cell cycle and to proliferate. In particular, hair cells are induced to proliferate by administration of a composition which activates the Myc and Notch. Supporting cells are induced to transdifferentiate to hair cells by inhibition of Myc and Notch activity or the activation of Atoh1. Methods of treatment include the intracellular delivery of these molecules to a specific therapeutic target.

The disclosure provides an episome comprising OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, cMYC, NANOG, LIN28, and NRSA2. Also disclosed is a method for producing an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell. The method comprises introducing an episome into a cell, wherein the episome comprises OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, cMYC, NANOG, LIN28, and NRSA2, and growing the cell under conditions to select for the presence of the episome. The method also comprises selecting a primary clone and growing the primary clone in a medium comprising a MEK inhibitor and a GSK3b inhibitor.

Provided are methods and compositions for transdifferentiation of a somatic cell, e.g., a fibroblast to a dopaminergic precursor, Specifically, provided are induced dopaminergic (iDP) cells, or master transcription factors (TFs) therefore, methods for making iDP cells, and methods and compositions for using them in, e.g., treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.