Methods and materials relating to cultured choroid plexus organoids comprising: (a) an epithelium comprising a tight epithelial barrier; and/or (b) one or more cysts surrounded by an epithelium, plus other authentic features and markers.

A method for generating a microglia-sufficient brain organoid comprising the step of incubating primitive-like macrophage cells with a brain organoid that is between about 15 to about 30 days old in cerebral organoid medium comprising CSF-1 in a low attachment cell culture vessel to generate microglia cells. The present invention also relates to a microglia-sufficient brain organoid obtained by the method as described herein.

Provided herein is an in vitro model of the blood brain barrier. In some embodiments, the model includes: an endothelial cell layer, and brain tissue layer comprising neuronal cells, and optionally one or more of astrocytes, pericytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. In some embodiments, the model further comprises a porous membrane between said endothelial cell layer and the neuronal cell layer. A microfluidic device comprising the same and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Compositions and methods for treating neuronal injury, such as in Parkinson's disease, comprising administration of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells to a subject are provided. Methods for producing such compositions from blood, including umbilical cord blood are also provided.

Described herein are cell culture media useful for the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into microglia. The methods described herein relate to in vitro generation of expandable, bankable, microglial cells by directed differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (induced or embryonic). Using only defined cell culture media, differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is directed down a mesodermal path, in a rapid and scalable fashion, to generate cells adopting signatures of their in vivo counterparts, including gene expression, protein marker expression and functionality.

The present invention relates to a kit comprising a co-culture microdevice containing peripheral sensory neurons (PSN) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) in a cell culture adapted for both cell types. It is also described a method for screening an active compound using the kit according to the present invention, as well as the use thereof for in vitro dmg tests and for producing a cosmetic product for various dermatological applications, such as atopic dermatitis, sensitive skin, photoaging, wound healing and epidermal thickness in aged skin.

Functional human cortico-spinal-muscle assembled spheroids are generated by in vitro culture. Complete cortico-spinal-muscle spheroids (hCS-hSC-hSkM) are assembled from component cultured cell systems, where each cultured cell system is designed to provide specific sets of neural and/or muscle cells, and which components are functionally integrated in the assembled spheroid.

Disclosed is a method of promoting neuronal growth by administering IGFBPL-1, or an agent that increases or stabilizes IGFBPL-1 activity to a subject in need thereof, e.g., a subject in need of treating optic nerve degeneration.

A method of creating an isogenic multicellular blood-brain barrier model from iPSCs is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for generating neuronal and muscular cells from pluripotent stem cells.