The Pluripotent Stem cells for Inherited Diseases and Embryonic Research (PSIDER) program is intended for biomedical research with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). This program focuses on alternatives to research with embryos with the aim of providing knowledge to prevent serious hereditary diseases.
Our multidisciplinary team of researchers aims to develop egg and sperm cells from (edited) hiPSCs in the laboratory, and to explore the ethical, legal, and societal implications of potentially using these cells (or: gametes) to create non-viable human embryos.
We use human blastoids to study the molecular mechanisms of early human development, develop methods to improve IVF success of mosaic embryos and develop an ethical framework that facilitates policy-making.
The GREAT consortium aims to develop a 3D human gastruloid model system from pluripotent stem cells. The aim is to study the early development of heart, muscle and blood tissue. At the same time, GREAT will explore the ethical and social issues of this technology.
The aims of PSIDER are to stimulate the use of iPSC to develop alternatives for research with human (viable) embryos, gain knowledge for the treatment of hereditary diseases, and consolidate the international leadership of the involved Dutch scientists. In line with these aims, our multidisciplinary consortium strives to develop responsible research alternatives for (viable) human embryos by creating (non-viable) human embryos from hiPSC-derived gametes, which could also be used to investigate treatments for hereditary diseases and optimize Medically Assisted Reproductive (MAR) treatments.
In order to achieve these aims, the HipGametes consortium consists of a multidisciplinary team of Dutch experts aiming to develop in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) protocols for female (mature oocytes) and male (sperm cells) started from (edited) hiPSCs and to explore the ethical, legal, and societal implications of in vitro gametes and their use to generate non-viable human embryos. This would not only circumvent the necessity to use natural (viable) embryos in research but also avoid using donor oocytes for their creation. This research complements the use of the embryo models developed in the Beyond the Blastocyst and GREAT consortia, as these are not suitable for investigating the pre-implantation period
The Dutch Embryo Model Meeting presents a valuable opportunity for scientists involved in research with stem-cell-based embryo models to showcase their work, and many of the researchers involved in our program eagerly anticipate presenting their research findings at this event.
The recent report of the Rathenau Institute, entitled 'Seeds for a Societal Debate', is now online!
In the Netherlands, about two thousand people live with the muscle disease FSHD. With this condition, the muscles increasingly lose strength, which can ultimately cause people to end up in a wheelchair.
In the Netherlands, about two thousand people live with the muscle disease FSHD. With this condition, the muscles increasingly lose strength, which can ultimately cause people to end up in a wheelchair.
In the Netherlands, about two thousand people live with the muscle disease FSHD. With this condition, the muscles increasingly lose strength, which can ultimately cause people to end up in a wheelchair.
