Methods for generating blastoids from nave hPSCs are provided. Exemplary methods include exposing the nave hPSCs to 5i/L/A, aggregating the exposed hPSCs in N2B27, and treating the aggregated hPSCs with a simplified blastocyst induction medium (BIM). Also provided are systems for extended culture of human blastoids on a 3D matrix, including blastoids generated from nave hPSCs according to methods described herein.

Cell culture media comprising antioxidants are provided herein as are methods of using the media for cell culturing and polypeptide production from cells. Compositions comprising polypeptides, such as therapeutic polypeptides, produced by the methods herein are also provided.

Provided are a method for preparing a mammalian ovum or embryo in which zona pellucida has been thinned or eliminated, and a method for fertilization using the mammalian ovum prepared by the aforementioned method. The resulting mammalian ovum or embryo is capable of realizing an improved fertilization rate and development rate when used for in vitro fertilization, transplantation of a fertilized ovum, or for preparation of an embryo in the early stages of development used in the production of a genetically modified animal.

There is provided an improved efficient method for differentiating stem cells into pancreatic endoderm cells and pancreatic hormone expressing and secreting cells which express Pdx-1 and C-peptide. The invention further provides screening methods for detecting factors of interest that will affect the differentiation of the stem cells into pancreatic endoderm cells.

The application describes compositions, kits, and methods for generating Schwann cells from epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSC). Such EPI-NCSC can be obtained from the bulge of hair follicles.

The invention relates to methods, peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in isolating and expanding human T cell populations in an antigen-specific manner for immunodiagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The invention also relates to professional antigen presenting cells derived from pluripotent human stem cells, and to customizable antigen presentation by the antigen presenting cells.

Embodiments herein relate to in vitro production methods of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) that have long-term multilineage hematopoiesis potentials upon in vivo engraftment. The HSC and HSPCs are derived from pluripotent stem cells-derived hemogenic endothelia cells (HE) by non-integrative episomal vectors-based gene transfer.

Methods, kits, compositions, and systems are provided for culturing pluripotent stem cells to produce populations of cells comprising beta-like cells (e.g., pancreatic lineage, glucose-responsive, and/or insulin-producing). In particular, culture conditions are provided that result in the generation of beta-like cells from a starting culture of human pluripotent stem cells.

Existence of human trophoblast stem (hTS) cells has been suspected but unproved. The isolation of hTS cells is reported in the early stage of chorionic villi by expressions of FGF4, FGFR-2, Oct4, Thy-1, and stage-specific embryonic antigens distributed in different compartments of the cell. hTS cells are able to derive into specific cell phenotypes of the three primitive embryonic layers, produce chimeric reactions in mice, and retain a normal karyotype and telomere length. In hTS cells, Oct4 and fgfr-2 expressions can be knockdown by bFGF. These facts suggest that differentiation of the hTS cells play an important role in implantation and placentation. hTS cells could apply to human cell differentiation and for gene and cell-based therapies. Disclosed herein are methods for treating diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, with neural stem cells differentiated from the hTS cells such as those expressing Oct4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, and SSEA-4.

This invention relates to methods for improved cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration and for differentiating human embryonic stem cells and human embryo-derived into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and other retinal progenitor cells.