Research Areas
Development of Transplantable Pancreatic Cells
Replacing the beta cells lost in Type I diabetes is a long-sought goal of regenerative medicine. The Sareen Laboratory uses the latest methods in cell fate guidance, assessment and clinical translation in its efforts to make this a reality.
3-D Bioprinting
Bioprinting is the fabrication of human tissues using specialized robotics to assemble cells into precise 3-D forms. The Sareen Lab uses a variety of printers—including an in-house custom printer—to generate complex, multicellular tissues for drug testing and disease modeling.
Dysregulation of Motor Neurons Due to C9ORF72 Repeat Expansion in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
Using induced pluripotent stem cell motor neurons from patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Sareen Laboratory members can identify the discrete cellular effects of a mutation signature of ALS. By determining the mode of action of this mutation, the Sareen Lab seeks to learn more about the proteomic and regulatory mechanisms that cause ALS. Elucidating these mechanisms may allow lab members to identify points at which these errant processes might be disrupted or mitigated.
Metabolic Disorders
The ongoing rise in obesity demands a new understanding of what drives human metabolic signaling. The Sareen Lab examines the effect of genetics and environmental factors using stem cell derived neurons and foregut.
Endothelial Cell Influences on Multicellular Cultures
In the constant pursuit for more relevant models of the complex human system, the Sareen Laboratory is exploring the effects of endothelial cells that line blood vessels have on the maturity and function of nerve, muscle and endocrine tissues.