Dr Koushik Chakrabarty
Talks about GROW-iPSC

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Overview

Introduction

Induced pluripotent stem cells enable patient-specific disease modelling by reprogramming adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. At Narayana Netralaya Foundation, iPSC research is used to study ocular diseases at a cellular level and connect genetic findings with functional outcomes.

Why This Research Matters

Many inherited retinal diseases progress silently before clinical symptoms appear. iPSC-derived retinal cells allow early disease mechanisms to be studied and therapies to be evaluated in human-relevant models.

Objectives

The iPSC programme aims to:

  • Generate patient-specific iPSC lines
  • Differentiate iPSCs into retinal cell types
  • Model disease progression in vitro
  • Support therapeutic testing and validation

Core Research Focus

The iPSC programme focuses on creating patient-specific cellular models to study disease mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic strategies in a controlled laboratory environment.

 

Core areas of focus include:

  • Generation of patient-derived iPSC lines from inherited ocular disease cases
  • Differentiation of iPSCs into retinal and ocular cell types, including RPE and photoreceptors
  • Modelling early-stage disease processes and cellular dysfunction
  • Studying genotype–phenotype relationships at a cellular level

A strong emphasis is placed on translational integration, including:

  • Functional validation of genetic variants identified through ocular genetics
  • Testing gene therapy and pharmacological interventions in human-derived cells
  • Correlating cellular phenotypes with clinical imaging and functional outcomes

Together, these efforts support a diverse portfolio of iPSC research, spanning various areas ocular and cellular dysfunction.

Team

The iPSC programme is led by a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinician-researchers with expertise in:

  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Retinal Development
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Translational Ophthalmology

Close collaboration between laboratory researchers and clinicians ensures that research priorities remain aligned with patient needs and real-world clinical applicability.

nVault - Publications | Articles | Research

Recent developments in gene therapy research in India

Recent developments in gene therapy research in India

Authors: Selot R, Ghosh A

Keywords: NA

PMID: 38384245

ITF2357 regulates NF-κB signaling pathway to protect barrier integrity in retinal pigment epithelial cells

ITF2357 regulates NF-κB signaling pathway to protect barrier integrity in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Authors: Rayne R Lim, Binapani Mahaling, Alison Tan, Milan Mehta, Charanjit Kaur , Walter Hunziker, Judy E Kim , Veluchamy A Barathi , Arkasubhra Ghosh , Shyam S Chaurasia

Keywords: NA

PMID: 38430220

DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301592R

New Project - 2026-03-28T013910.165

Distinct relationships between secreted factors measured in matched tear fluid, aqueous, vitreous, and plasma samples from patients with retinal conditions

Authors: Tanuja Arun Vaidya, Chaitra Jayadev, Archana Padmanabhan Nair, Ramaraj Kannan, Santhosh Gopi, Krishna Gadde, Thirumalesh Mochi Basavaraj, Naren Shetty, Rohit Shetty, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Swaminathan Sethu

Keywords: Angiogenic factors; Aqueous humor; Biomarkers; Inflammatory factors; Plasma; Tear fluid; Vitreous humor.

PMID: 40713973

DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110538

See All

Future Vision

The iPSC programme is progressing towards:

  • Scale iPSC platforms for robust and reproducible disease modelling
  • Enable personalised therapeutic testing using patient-derived cellular models
  • Support validation of gene and drug-based therapies in human-relevant systems
  • Strengthen integration between cellular phenotypes and clinical outcomes
  • Position iPSC research as a core translational bridge within the research ecosystem