Reprogramming Human Somatic Cells to Pluripotency for Disease Modeling and Therapy

Currently, new cellular models of human disease are emerging through the use of reprogramming technology. Direct reprogramming of human somatic cells to embryonic-like induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells uses readily accessible skin, fat, blood, and hair cells. A primary use of such technology is to reprogram somatic cells from patients who are classified into a disease group, thus creating iPS cell lines popularly labeled as “diseases in a dish.” The disease-in-a-dish agenda thus frames disease as a phenomenon to be seen at the cellular level by laboratory scientists. This work will examine the assumptions built into “diseases in a dish” and further develop numerical models associated with this engineering endeavor. Applications in regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and disease modeling will be thoroughly discussed.