Dr. Agnete Kirkeby is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and a Group Leader at Lund University. The Kirkeby group studies the factors involved in human neural subtype specification in order to enable production of specific neurons for understanding and treating neurological diseases. They apply advanced human stem cells models to understand how hundreds of human neuronal subtypes are formed during embryo development. She talks about moving cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease from animal models to clinical trials, modeling neural tube development, and developing stem cell treatments for narcolepsy.

Transgene-Free Totipotent-Like Cells – Researchers rolled back hPSCs to an eight-cell embryo-like stage.

A New Bipotent Progenitor in Human Lung Regeneration – Using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell profiling, scientists identified new terminal and respiratory bronchiole cell types.

Alveolar Regeneration –  Researchers identified a distinct progenitor in a region of the human lung that plays a critical role in maintaining the gas-exchange compartment and is altered in chronic lung disease.

A Computational Tool to Measure Cell Identity and Fate Transitions – A new computational tool called “Capybara” can classify discrete cell identity and intermediate “hybrid” cell states.

Preserving β cell Function in Type 2 Diabetes – Inhibiting HIF-1α improved β cell function in mouse models of diabetes and in human islet organoids.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Agnete Kirkeby

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