Recent studies have pointed to stem cells as useful as a source for developing transplantable tissues, but the mechanisms to achieve their mature function are not known. Age-related blindness is a leading morbidity and engineering transplantable ocular tissues is a solution.

Joshua Disatham, Ph.D., researches how oxygen levels modify the genetic landscape to program immature lens cells into fully functional transparent cells.

Join Disatham as he discusses:

• A novel requirement for hypoxia to convert stem cells into mature cells

• Using big-data analysis to discover novel mechanisms controlling tissue development

• Broader implications towards the development of regenerative medicine therapies