Differentiation of Human Embryonic/Induced-Pluripotent Stem Cells to Retinal Ganglion Cells

The generation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) differentiated from human embryonic stem cell (hESC) or induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) could aid with understanding of human RGC development, neuronal biology, drug discovery, potential cell-based therapies, and gene regulation. Here, we present a protocol for differentiation of hESC to RGCs using a 40-day protocol, significantly shorter than typical retinal organoids while still yielding cells with RGC-enriched markers and show physiological and morphological properties typical of RGCs.