Research & Initiatives
Chang's Lab focus on stem cell biology, neuroscience, and neurodegenerative diseases, utilizing embryonic stem cells and iPSCs to generate neurons, glia, and skeletal muscle. By integrating stem cells with biomaterials and microfluidic chips, our team develops advanced ALS and Parkinson’s disease models for drug discovery and transplantation therapies, while also establishing in vitro systems for rare diseases. Furthermore, we combine stem cell approaches with optogenetics and sonogenetics to restore neural function, aiming to deliver innovative therapies for currently incurable neurological disorders.
Project for motor neuron disease modeling
1. Applying iPSC to generate rapid in vitro neuromuscular junction model
Neuromuscular junction formation and endplate structure
Motor neuron induced muscle contraction in
neuromuscular junction
3D image of neuromuscular junction
Project for motor neuron disease modeling
2: Generating 3D neuromuscular junction organoid by iPSC and micropatterned Gelatin Hydrogels (cooperate with 清華大學陳盈潔教授)
Motor neuron induced muscle contraction in
3D neuromuscular junction organoid
Project for motor neuron disease modeling
3: Generating neuromuscular junction CHIP for drug screening (cooperate with 中央研究院董奕鍾教授)
Project for Parkinson's disease transplantation therapy
1. Robust Generation of Off-the-Shelf iPSC-Derived Dopaminergic Progenitors to Enhance Safety and Functional Recovery in Parkinson’s Disease (cooperate with 中興大學蘇鴻麟教授/花蓮慈濟醫院林欣榮醫師)
Robust differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons
Transplanted dopaminergic neurons migrate and improve motor function within 8 weeks in Parkinsonian rats
Project for Parkinson's disease transplantation therapy
2. In Vivo Remote Activation of Transplanted Neurons in the Brain via a Non-Invasive Sonogenetic Strategy (cooperate with 清華大學林玉俊教授/葉秩光教授)
USIC protein expression neurons
Calcium flux after focus ultrasound stimulation
In vivo activation of transplanted neurons with
focus ultrasound
