Stem Cell Disease Modelling
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Professor Alice Pèbay
Research Overview
Our laboratory focuses on the study of human pluripotent stem cells for modelling neurodegenerative diseases.
The difficulty in obtaining brain or ocular tissue from living people is a major barrier to developing new treatments for neurodegenerative disease. We can now generate stem cells from adult tissue, and these “induced pluripotent stem cells” (iPSCs) represent a powerful disease modelling tool. Generating iPSCs directly from patients allows cells to be differentiated into specific cells of interest for disease modelling, drug screening, and understanding of fundamental pathogenic mechanisms.
We differentiate iPSCs into various cell types of the nervous system, as monolayers or as organoids. Using these cells, we model age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, inherited retinal dystrophies and optic neuropathies, in order to establish the molecular events leading to disease progression and aspects of neurodegeneration. We also use gene editing technology for the correction of monogenic diseases of the retina and the optic nerve.
Staff
Dr Grace Lidgerwood, Research Fellow
Dr Damian Hernandez, Research Fellow
Dr Maciej Daniszewski, Research Fellow
Ms Lerna Jurdukian, Senior Research Support Officer
Collaborators
Associate Professor Joseph Powell, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Professor Alex Hewitt, University of Tasmania
Professor Robyn Guymer, Centre for Eye Research Australia
Funding
National Health & Medical Research Council
Medical Research Future Funds
Australian Research Council
Dementia Australia Research Foundation
Yulgilbar Alzheimer’s Research Program
DHB Foundation
Research Outcomes
Professor Alice Pèbay on Google Scholar
Research Publications
View Professor Alice Pèbay's latest PubMed publications here