Provided herein are novel organoid culture media, organoid culture systems, and methods of culturing tumor organoids using the subject organoid culture media. Also provided herein are tumor organoids developed using such organoid culture systems, methods for assessing the clonal diversity of the tumor organoids, and methods for using such tumor organoids, for example, for tumor modelling and drug development applications. In particular embodiments, the tumor organoid culture media provided herein is substantially free of R-spondins (e.g., R-spondin1).

The present disclosure provides methods for generating lung progenitor cells, and populations of cells made using the methods. The lung progenitors and related compositions can be used as therapeutic treatments for various pulmonary disorders or related injuries.

The present invention provides a hydrogel capsule comprising a cell, a protein, and a cross-linking agent; wherein the cell is within a first core layer comprising the protein; and wherein the first core layer is surrounded by a second layer comprising the protein and the cross-linking agent. The invention further provides the hydrogel capsule for use in therapy, prognosis and diagnosis, a method for culturing cells, a method for differentiating cells, and method for producing the hydrogel capsule. The hydrogel capsules of the invention are particularly useful for encapsulating pancreatic islets

Compositions and methods of producing mammalian cell populations that include a high proportion of pancreatic beta cells are described herein. Such cell populations are useful for treatment of diabetes. Also provided are materials and methods for the direct differentiation of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, into functional pancreatic beta cells. The disclosure provides the benefit of direct differentiation, which results in the production of functional pancreatic beta cells efficiently and at low cost.

The present invention relates to methods for encapsulating pancreatic progenitors in a biocompatible semi-permeable encapsulating device. The present invention also relates to production of human insulin in a mammal in response to glucose stimulation.

The invention relates to improved culture methods for expanding epithelial stem cells and obtaining organoids, to culture media involved in said methods, and to uses of said organoids.

The present invention provides a cell culture for obtaining an epithelial organoid, the cell culture comprising i) epithelial stem cells, or tissue fragments comprising said epithelial stem cells, ii) a basal medium for animal or human cells, iii) a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, iv) a mitogenic growth factor selected from the group consisting of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), v) at least one soluble culture enhancer, wherein said at least one culture enhancer induces correct polarization of the cells in said cell culture within the developing organoid such as a laminin/entactin complex or entactin, and vi) a Wnt agonist if said epithelial stem cells, or tissue fragments comprising said epithelial stem cells are healthy cells, wherein said at least one soluble culture enhancer in said cell culture is a laminin/entactin complex in a concentration between 0.2 mg/ml and 3.4 mg/ml. A cell culture medium, an in-vitro method for obtaining an epithelial organoid, and an epithelial organoid obtained by said method are also disclosed.

An exemplary method can be provided for producing ureteric bud cells from pluripotent stem cells, in vitro. Further, an exemplary method can be provided for producing ureteric bud cells and Wolffian duct (WD) progenitor-like cells that are a progenitor of the ureteric bud cells. Another exemplary method can be provided for producing Wolffian duct (WD) progenitor-like cells that can comprise obtaining C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) positive and KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) positive cells. In addition, an exemplary method can be provided for producing ureteric-bud-like cells using WD progenitors that are CXCR4+ and KIT+, and another exemplary method can be provided for producing kidney organoids in which the ureteric-bud-like cells can be used.

The current disclosure provides for methods of promoting differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into thymic epithelial cells or thymic epithelial cell progenitors as well as the cells obtained from the methods, and solutions, compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells. The current disclosure also provides for methods of using the thymic epithelial cells or thymic epithelial cell progenitors for treatment and prevention of disease, generating organs, as well as other uses, and kits.

A reagent for differentiating somatic cells into alveolar epithelial cells includes an NK2 homeobox family gene expression vector, and a Fox family gene expression vector, a method for manufacturing alveolar epithelial cells, the method including forcing a somatic cell to express an NK2 homeobox family gene and a Fox family gene and culturing the somatic cell after forced expression, an alveolar epithelial cell manufactured by the manufacturing method, and a cell medicine including the alveolar epithelial cell.