The Stem Cell Podcast

Author: The Stem Cell Podcast

A podcast dedicated to culturing knowledge in stem cell research. Brought to you by STEMCELL Technologies.
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Language: en-us

Genres: Natural Sciences, Science

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Ep. 331: “How the Heart Takes Shape” Featuring Dr. Lika Drakhlis
Tuesday, 29 September, 2026

Guest: Dr. Lika Drakhlis is a Junior Group Leader at Hannover Medical School. She discusses how her lab uses human pluripotent stem cells to develop complex, multi-tissue organoids that model the co-development of the heart, vasculature, and foregut. She also explores how these models reveal the spatial organization and cellular interactions that shape early heart development, and how they can be used to study congenital disease and develop more human-relevant alternatives to animal models. Featured Products and Resources: Improve your skills in hPSC culture and maintenance with this free, on-demand course. Learn about organoid cultures from the expertsby visiting the STEMCELL Technologies’ Organoid Information Hub. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Building a Human–Mouse Cortex – Human cortical organoids extensively integrate into the mouse brain, forming functional neural circuits that enable behavioral studies of human neurodevelopment and disease. Connecting the Central and Peripheral – Self-organizing neural organoids recreate the coordinated development of the spinal cord and peripheral sensory nervous system, enabling studies of development, disease, and drug effects. Tracing the Brain’s Origins – Lineage tracing and stem cell models reveal two distinct neural progenitors that separately give rise to the forebrain/midbrain and hindbrain. Engineering Stem Cells for Bone – A first-in-human trial suggests that engineering patients’ own mesenchymal stem cells to better home to bone may provide a safe and durable approach to treating osteoporosis. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Lika Drakhlis Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe