Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by the selective loss of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer a promising platform for modeling PD and developing regenerative therapies.
My research focuses on building an integrated single-cell atlas that compares mDA neurons in vivo with those generated in vitro using diverse hPSC-based protocols—including monolayers, organoids, and clinical-grade graft preparations. This atlas enables us to assess the authenticity of stem cell–derived mDA neurons and to identify the off-target populations produced by different protocols, providing a reference for improving cell therapies and disease models for Parkinson’s disease.