iPSC facility

The ULB Center for Diabetes Research created a stem cell laboratory in 2015 to implement human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation into pancreatic islets. Human iPSC-derived cells provide an exciting technology to study disease mechanisms, discover biomarkers and test novel therapeutic approaches; they will also become essential as cell replacement therapy. Over the years, we have acquired ample expertise and knowhow in stem cell-based disease-in-a-dish models.

In our commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, the ULB Stem Cell Core Facility is dedicated to provide access to academic and industry partners to these state-of-the-art methodologies, along with comprehensive training and technological support in:

• REPROGRAMMING: Utilizing non-integrating Sendai virus technology, we reprogram patient and healthy control skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells into iPSC lines.
• GENOME EDITING: Employing CRISPR/Cas technology, we correct pathogenic mutations in patients’ iPSCs to create isogenic control iPSC lines. Conversely, if patient cells are not available, we generate “disease iPSC lines” by introducing specific mutations.
• DIFFERENTIATIONS: Our expertise encompasses the differentiation of iPSCs into pancreatic islets, neurons, and endothelial cells. Additional differentiation methods can be established upon request.