Project 21

Isolation and characterization of stem cells derived from the olfactory neuroepithelium

Cells in the olfactory epithelium are replenished throughout life. There is evidence that this renewal is sustained by a resident pool of stem cells in the neuroepithelium. There is thus a potential source of adult neural stem cells which is surgically accessible and of potential clinical relevance. In this project the aim is to isolate these stem cells and, in tissue culture, determine which factors modulate their proliferation and differentiation. In particular we wish to find out how the fate of these olfactory stem cells is influenced by other cells such as supporting glia and immune cells.