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

Sesamol reprograms mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic signaling to rescue endothelial degeneration in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy

Sesamol reprograms mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic signaling to rescue endothelial degeneration in Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy

Authors: Divyani Nayak, Ramaraj Kannan, Sharon D’Souza, Shivapriya Shivakumar, Rohit Shetty, Naren Shetty, Dipankar Malakar, Praveen Machiraju, Debashish Das, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Vrushali Deshpande, Koushik Chakrabarty

Keywords: Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy; Human cornea; Mitochondrial dysfunction; Oxidative stress; PPAR signaling; Sesamol; iPSC-derived corneal endothelium.

PMID: 42061480

DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.04.139

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

Management of Ocular Neuropathic Pain With Vitamin B12 Supplements A Case Report

Management of Ocular Neuropathic Pain With Vitamin B12 Supplements: A Case Report

Authors: Rohit Shetty, Kalyani Deshpande, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Swaminathan Sethu

Keywords: NA

PMID: 26266431

DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000572

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