SCIENTIST DEVELOPS HUMAN-BASED MODELS TO STUDY NEURO DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

CONTEXT: Yogita K Adlakha, an Inspire Faculty Fellow, has developed human-based models to study neuron development and neuro developmental disorders such as autism, which can help design treatment strategies for such brain disorders.

Analysis:

• For decades, animal models have been used to understand brain-related disorders and the drugs that function in animal models have failed in clinical trials. The dearth of human models has led to a lack of knowledge of the pathophysiology of such disorders, an essential requirement for designing their treatment strategies.
• Adlakha, a recipient of the INSPIRE Faculty fellowship instituted by the DST, filled this gap by generating human-based stem cell models to understand brain development and dysfunction at the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana.
• Along with her research group, Adlakha established a protocol from India for the first time by generating and producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from human peripheral blood. They have further refined the protocol of differentiation of iPSCs into brain-specific stem cells, i.e., neural stem cells (NSCs).
• She filled this gap and developed a human-based model that could help study how the brain develops, particularly the neurons, and what goes awry during brain development, leading to cognitive decline, impairment in language and social interaction.

Reference: The Week