King's College London

Project Title:

Generation of Disease-Specific Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (R0180)

Centre:

Stem cell Biology Laboratory Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London (0297)

Person Responsible:

Dr Stephen Minger

Lay summary:

This project is designed to generate human embryonic stem cells from embryos created by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) from individuals with genetic forms of human neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and spinal Muscular Atrophy, amongst others.

We propose to use non-human oocytes (eggs) from domestic livestock species (e.g. cows, rabbits, sheep and goats) rather than donated human oocytes as a source population for nuclear transfer.

Using SCNT, we hope to create a number of human embryonic stem cell lines containing a number of different genetic mutations and genes that cause a wide range of neurological diseases for which there is little or no current therapy. The resulting cell lines will be used in collaboration with experts in neurodegeneration, neuroscience, pharmacology and drug discovery not only as cellular tools to try to further our understanding of molecular and cellular basis of neurological disorders, but to also as a means to develop novel therapies appropriate for each disease.