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Neural stem cells – Anna Falk group

Our group is focusing on questions in early human neurogenesis. Reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and directed differentiation opens up for studies on neural cells from patients.

iPS core instruments.
"Growing mini-brains in labs"
Anna Falk and Andreas Andersson Photo: Cecilia Odlind

"Growing mini-brains in labs"

The goal is to understand the structure and development of the human brain in order to cure and prevent diseases and injuries. Nowadays, researchers can create an infinite number of brain cells for studies from individuals with or without a diagnosis through reprogramming. Anna Falk is one of the researchers using this technique, and more specifically, she grows brain cells in the form of mini-brains.

Find out more her research and its possible applications in episode #4 of Medicinvetarna (in Swedish). And yes: the zombie apocalypse is mentioned in the episode...

Anna Falk grows brain cells in culture bowls

Small brains float in the culture bowl in her hand. The reprogramming technique allows researchers at KI to transform skin cells into brain cells. Video produced by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. 

Research focus

A human patient iPS cell colony stained for pluripotency markers Oct4 in green and Tra1-81 in red
A human patient iPS cell colony stained for pluripotency markers Oct4 in green and Tra1-81 in red. Photo M. Shahsavani.

Research on Neurodevelopment

Using reprogramming to model diseases of the human brain

Reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and directed differentiation opens up for studies on neural cells from patients. 

The Falk group is focusing on fundamental questions in early human neurogenesis:

  • How do neural stem cells make their fate choices between self-renewal and differentiation? Between neurons and glia? How are these decisions hampered in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders? Are in vitro human neurogenesis, migration and maturation in 2D and/or 3D systems mimicking development in health and disease?
  • The regenerative potential of iPS derived cell types and the routes forward to clinic 

We build cellular models of the healthy and diseased human brain using reprogrammed patient cells.

We derive patient specific iPS cells that are further differentiated into patient specific neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells.

Both iPS and NES cell lines can be robustly expanded in culture and by applying efficient neuronal differentiation protocols we derive close to pure cultures of unlimited numbers of neurons.

We use the cellular models to study proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation potential as well as the function and subtype of derived neurons to uncover disease mechanisms. 

The Falk lab is also driving translational projects investigating the regenerative potential of iPS cell derived neural cells in preclinical models with the aim to create ATMPs to take iPS derived cell to clinic. We have derived one of few clinical compliant GMP iPS cell lines that we have banked in a master bank and we are now investigating the route forward to clinic.

Publications

Selected publications

  • Article: CELL STEM CELL. 2019;25(6):855-870.e11
    Cancer M; Hutter S; Holmberg KO; Rosen G; Sundstrom A; Tailor J; Bergstrom T; Garancher A; Essand M; Wechsler-Reya RJ; Falk A; Weishaupt H; Swartling FJ
  • Article: EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH. 2019;383(1):111469
    Lam M; Moslem M; Bryois J; Pronk RJ; Uhlin E; Ellstrom ID; Laan L; Olive J; Morse R; Ronnholm H; Louhivuori L; Korol SV; Dahl N; Uhlen P; Anderlid B-M; Kele M; Sullivan PF; Falk A
  • Article: FRONTIERS IN GENETICS. 2019;10:896
    Kvarnung M; Shahsavani M; Taylan F; Moslem M; Breeuwsma N; Laan L; Schuster J; Jin Z; Nilsson D; Lieden A; Anderlid B-M; Nordenskjold M; Lundberg ES; Birnir B; Dahl N; Nordgren A; Lindstrand A; Falk A
  • Article: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2018;23(7):1674-1684
    Shahsavani M; Pronk RJ; Falk R; Lam M; Moslem M; Linker SB; Salma J; Day K; Schuster J; Anderlid B-M; Dahl N; Gage FH; Falk A
  • Article: STEM CELL REPORTS. 2018;10(3):1030-1045
    Lundin A; Delsing L; Clausen M; Ricchiuto P; Sanchez J; Sabirsh A; Ding M; Synnergren J; Zetterberg H; Brolen G; Hicks R; Herland A; Falk A
  • Article: STEM CELL RESEARCH. 2017;18:22-25
    Uhlin E; Ronnholm H; Day K; Kele M; Tammimies K; Bolte S; Falk A
  • Article: BIOMATERIALS. 2014;35(30):8496-8502
    Wu S; Johansson J; Damdimopoulou P; Shahsavani M; Falk A; Hovatta O; Rising A
  • Article: BIOMATERIALS. 2014;35(5):1420-1428
    Zhang D; Pekkanen-Mattila M; Shahsavani MO; Falk A; Teixeira AI; Herland A
  • Article: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2013;33(30):12407-12422
    Tailor J; Kittappa R; Leto K; Gates M; Borel M; Paulsen O; Spitzer S; Karadottir RT; Rossi F; Falk A; Smith A
  • Article: STEM CELLS. 2012;30(6):1163-1173
    Fujimoto Y; Abematsu M; Falk A; Tsujimura K; Sanosaka T; Juliandi B; Semi K; Namihira M; Komiya S; Smith A; Nakashima K
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2012;7(1):e29597
    Falk A; Koch P; Kesavan J; Takashima Y; Ladewig J; Alexander M; Wiskow O; Tailor J; Trotter M; Pollard S; Smith A; Bruestle O

All publications from group members

  • Article: ADVANCED SCIENCE. 2024;11(25):e2401859
    Jain S; Voulgaris D; Thongkorn S; Hesen R; Hagg A; Moslem M; Falk A; Herland A
  • Editorial comment: CELL STEM CELL. 2024;31(2):152-154
    Eidhof I; Twohig D; Falk A
  • Article: BIOLOGY OPEN. 2023;12(10):bio060113
    Mastropasqua F; Oksanen M; Soldini C; Alatar S; Arora A; Ballarino R; Molinari M; Agostini F; Poulet A; Watts M; Rabkina I; Becker M; Li D; Anderlid B-M; Isaksson J; Remnelius KL; Moslem M; Jacob Y; Falk A; Crosetto N; Bienko M; Santini E; Borgkvist A; Bo''lte S; Tammimies K
  • Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2023;13(1):10519
    Arora A; Becker M; Marques C; Oksanen M; Li D; Mastropasqua F; Watts ME; Arora M; Falk A; Daub CO; Lanekoff I; Tammimies K
  • Article: HUMAN MUTATION. 2022;43(11):1567-1575
    Eisfeldt J; Rezayee F; Pettersson M; Lagerstedt K; Malmgren H; Falk A; Grigelioniene G; Lindstrand A
  • Article: STEM CELL REPORTS. 2022;17(10):2203-2219
    Drouin-Ouellet J; Legault EM; Nilsson F; Pircs K; Bouquety J; Petit F; Shrigley S; Birtele M; Pereira M; Storm P; Sharma Y; Bruzelius A; Vuono R; Kele M; Stoker TB; Ottosson DR; Falk A; Jakobsson J; Barker RA; Parmar M
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2022;23(16):9392
    Eisfeldt J; Schuy J; Stattin E-L; Kvarnung M; Falk A; Feuk L; Lindstrand A
  • Article: ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY. 2022;37(8):2044-2057
    Reis L; Raciti M; Rodriguez PG; Joseph B; Al Rayyes I; Uhlen P; Falk A; Lima STDC; Ceccatelli S
  • Article: EBIOMEDICINE. 2022;77:103882
    Xu T; Li X; Guo Y; Uhlin E; Holmberg L; Mitra S; Winn D; Falk A; Sundstrom E
  • Article: STAR PROTOCOLS. 2021;2(2):100528
    Calvo-Garrido J; Winn D; Maffezzini C; Wedell A; Freyer C; Falk A; Wredenberg A
  • Article: JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION. 2021;18(1):124
    Rostami J; Mothes T; Kolahdouzan M; Eriksson O; Moslem M; Bergstrom J; Ingelsson M; O'Callaghan P; Healy LM; Falk A; Erlandsson A
  • Article: NEUROTHERAPEUTICS. 2021;18(2):1257-1272
    Xu N; Xu T; Mirasol R; Holmberg L; Vincent PH; Li X; Falk A; Benedikz E; Rotstein E; Seiger A; Akesson E; Falci S; Sundstrom E
  • Article: FRONTIERS IN GENETICS. 2021;12:803683
    Schuy J; Eisfeldt J; Pettersson M; Shahrokhshahi N; Moslem M; Nilsson D; Dahl N; Shahsavani M; Falk A; Lindstrand A
  • Corrigendum: BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY. 2021;133:111019
    Rostami J; Jantti M; Cui H; Rinne MK; Kukkonen JP; Falk A; Erlandsson A; Myohanen T
  • Article: BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY. 2020;131:110788
    Rostami J; Jantti M; Cui H; Rinne MK; Kukkonen JP; Falk A; Erlandsson A; Myohanen T
  • Article: TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY. 2020;10(1):312
    Becker M; Mastropasqua F; Reising JP; Maier S; Ho M-L; Rabkina I; Li D; Neufeld J; Ballenberger L; Myers L; Moritz V; Kele M; Wincent J; Willfors C; Sitnikov R; Herlenius E; Anderlid B-M; Falk A; Bolte S; Tammimies K
  • Review: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE. 2020;107:103533
    Delsing L; Herland A; Falk A; Hicks R; Synnergren J; Zetterberg H
  • Article: NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING. 2020;4(9):875-888
    Tanaka N; Kanatani S; Kaczynska D; Fukumoto K; Louhivuori L; Mizutani T; Kopper O; Kronqvist P; Robertson S; Lindh C; Kis L; Pronk R; Niwa N; Matsumoto K; Oya M; Miyakawa A; Falk A; Hartman J; Sahlgren C; Clevers H; Uhlen P
  • Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2020;117(33):20127-20138
    Susanto E; Navarro AM; Zhou L; Sundstrom A; van Bree N; Stantic M; Moslem M; Tailor J; Rietdijk J; Zubillaga V; Huebner J-M; Weishaupt H; Wolfsberger J; Alafuzoff I; Nordgren A; Magnaldo T; Siesjo P; Johnsen JI; Kool M; Tammimies K; Darabi A; Swartling FJ; Falk A; Wilhelm M
  • Corrigendum: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2020;11(1):3504
    Reyes AP; Petrus-Reurer S; Sanchez SP; Kumar P; Douagi I; Bartuma H; Aronsson M; Westman S; Lardner E; Andre H; Falk A; Nandrot EF; Kvanta A; Lanner F
  • Show more


Falk A, Koch P, Kesavan J, Takashima Y, Ladewig J, Alexander M, Wiskow O, Tailor J, Trotter M, Pollard S, Smith A, Brüstle O
PLoS One 2012 ;7(1):e29597

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Work with us

If you are interested in joining our lab, please send an email to Anna Falk with a cover letter describing your education, experience, and expertise relevant to the lab’s research. Please also let us know what your career goals are and what you hope to achieve in the Anna Falk Lab.

Name and full contact information for two to three references ready to submit reference letters upon request is also highly appreciated.

Applications at all levels are welcome!

Contact and visit us

Neural stem cells - Anna Falk group, Department of Neuroscience, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡.

Postal address

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Department of Neuroscience
171 77 Stockholm

Visiting address (visitors, couriers, etc.)

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡
Biomedicum, D7
Solnavägen 9
171 65 Solna

Delivery address (goods, parcels, etc.)

Tomtebodavägen 16
171 65 Solna

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, Solna

Work with us

If you are interested in joining our lab, please send an email to Anna Falk with a cover letter describing your education, experience, and expertise relevant to the lab’s research. Please also let us know what your career goals are and what you hope to achieve in the Anna Falk Lab.

Name and full contact information for two to three references ready to submit reference letters upon request is also highly appreciated.

Applications at all levels are welcome!

News archive

Anna Falk newslist 5 compact