Toshihiko Ezashi, PhD, DVM

University of Missouri – Columbia (MU)

I have acquired a great deal of experienced in working on the growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). We found that culturing hESC under physiologic oxygen levels (2-5% O2) prevented spontaneous differentiation, and increased the formation of embryoid bodies, which signify the greater ability of the hESC to develop into many different cell types of the body. I and colleagues laid the groundwork for modeling of human trophoblast differentiation from pluripotent stem cells. Our recent modeling syncytiotrophoblast formation from stem cells has also been very fruitful. I have extensive experience in stem cell and trophoblast biology, as well as broad expertise in molecular biology through an academic background in physiology and veterinary pathology. My recent collaboration led me studies in disease-specific iPSC derived from neurogenetic disorder patients that provide unprecedented accesses to neuronal cells bearing the specific genetic disorders.