Madison, WI—WiCell, an organization dedicated to supporting stem cell research and the advancement of novel therapies through innovative technologies and services, is proud to announce the addition of two new stem cell collections from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) to its catalog: the ESCAPE LRRK2 Cell Line Collection, and the Isogenic Stem Cell Collection to Research Parkinson’s Disease (iSCORE-PD).
These disease-relevant collections will enable researchers to uncover new insights into disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease. This collaboration also establishes a centralized online repository, ensuring researchers can easily locate and request Parkinson’s disease relevant iPSC lines.
The ESCAPE (LRRK2) Collection
Developed in the Schuele Laboratory at Stanford University School of Medicine, the ESCAPE Collection contains human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines focused on pathogenic LRRK2 gene variants. The series includes homozygous and heterozygous LRRK2 p.G2019S mutants, isogenic derivatives generated by Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) editing (biallelic correction, knockout, and unedited controls), healthy controls, and a unique double-mutant line combining LRRK2 p.G2019S with a PARKIN (PRKN) exon 5 copy-number variation. These lines have been widely adopted and cited in multiple peer-reviewed studies and provide a robust, validated platform for modeling LRRK2-associated PD and evaluating new therapeutic approaches.
The iSCORE-PD Collection
Comprised of well-characterized human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, the iSCORE-PD Collection, generated through collaborative efforts of ASAP Team Rio, including the Soldner Lab (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), the Hockemeyer Lab (University of California, Berkely), the Bateup Lab (University of California, Berkeley), and the Rio Lab (University of California, Berkeley), includes isogenic controls and Parkinson’s Disease(PD)-specific lines derived from the WIBR3 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line. Using CRISPR/Cas9 and prime editing, disease-causing mutations were introduced into genes implicated in Parkinson’s disease, such as SNCA, PRKN, PINK1, LRRK2, and GBA1. The collection allows researchers to investigate the molecular pathophysiology of PD within a human cellular context. The generation and distribution of the iSCORE collection was supported by ASAP in partnership with MJFF.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Michael J Fox Foundation and ASAP to make these valuable tools available to the broader scientific community,” said Tenneille Ludwig, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, WiCell. “By making these lines widely accessible through the WiCell Stem Cell Bank we hope to accelerate studies that provide new insights into disease mechanisms, and further the development of new therapies for patients living with Parkinson’s disease.”
Explore the new collections here: https://www.wicell.org/order-stem-cells/collections
“The Michael J. Fox Foundation is committed to removing barriers that slow progress for people with Parkinson’s.” said Elisia Clark, Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager at MJFF. “Through this collaboration with WiCell, researchers worldwide can access reliable, well-characterized Parkinson’s disease models that support open, reproducible science and accelerate discovery toward new treatments.”
These collections are the first of multiple planned deposits from MJFF and ASAP to WiCell, with additional PD-relevant lines to be released in the near future.
About WiCell (wicell.org)
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, WiCell is a supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a world leader in the area of human pluripotent stem cell research. Established in 1999 to advance stem cell technologies, our mission extends beyond providing high-quality stem cell lines and characterization services. WiCell is dedicated to advancing regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapy globally. Through promoting best practices in cell banking and characterization, we aim to support groundbreaking research and clinical applications. Our efforts—rooted in a commitment to quality, innovation, and collaboration—underscore our desire to support the scientific community as your lab partner.