The unique research in the field of biosciences has been inspiring lot of young people to think out of box and create a healthy environment for young researchers. From the milestone of converting any type of cell to a pluripotent stem cell through reprogramming to the most recent CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique, every invention has inspired young students to take up research. These have transformed the fields of gene therapy, genetic engineering and regeneration studies.
The use of induced pluripotent stem cells have revolutionized the field of regenerative medicine and this has become a vital part of achieving the so called ‘impossible task’ of reconstruction of brain that can be helpful in repairing the brain in conditions such as stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Battens disease and cerebral palsy. The reprogramming strategies have also helped to create novel strategies to tap the regenerative potential of the tissue through in vivo re-programming that proved successful in regeneration of heart using animal models and this kind of research can be helpful in improving the repair mechanism of infracted myocardium and other heart conditions.
The invention of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing have opened different possibilities that includes precise genetic engineering of crops to develop resistance to environmental deprivation and pathogenic infections, production of sustainable biofuels by creating efficient metabolic pathways for ethanol production. In-vivo correction of genetic or epigenetic defects through gene therapy and also helpful in increasing the yield of drug precursors in bacterial factories through genetic engineering. Every invention has been by the scientists who have out of box research ideas and we here in VIHA help the young students gain essential skills through advice, training material, mock interviews and guide them in framing a research proposal that leads to their dream PhD position.
Sources:
- Hadenfeld, Manal. “iPS cells and reprogramming: turn any cell of the body into a stem cell”. eurostemcell. 29th Sep, 2015 http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/ips-cells-and-reprogramming-turn-any-cell-body-stem-cell.
- Aguirre, A., Montserrat, N., Zacchigna, S., Nivet, E., Hishida, T., Krause, M. N., … Izpisua Belmonte, J. C. (2014). In vivo activation of a conserved microRNA program induces mammalian heart regeneration. Cell Stem Cell, 15(5), 589–604. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2014.10.003
- Hsu, P. D., Lander, E. S., & Zhang, F. (2014). Development and applications of CRISPR-Cas9 for genome engineering. Cell, 157(6), 1262–1278. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.05.010
- Price, J. (2011). Reconstructing brains: A biological impossibility[quest]. BioSocieties, 6(3), 299–322. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/biosoc.2011.6
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