Title: Using human iPSC derived motor neurons to model ALS and the neuromuscular junction

Speaker: Jack Guthrie, PhD Candidate, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University

Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: Theatre C, Tupper Building

Description: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuromuscular junction (NMJ) dysfunction and motor neuron death. There is currently no cure and treatment options are limited, making it essential to develop appropriate model systems to study the disease. Multiple in vitro model systems using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from ALS patients have been used to study the pathophysiology of motor neurons during disease progression. However, few in vitro studies have examined NMJ function. It is important to study the NMJ in ALS as its dysfunction is an early pathognomonic characteristic of the disease. This seminar explores our work using iPSC derived motor neurons as a model to study ALS. Additionally, I will present a novel technique to study neuromuscular junction formation and function in vitro using iPSC derived motor neurons.