Dissecting Mechanisms of Reprogramming from Human Fibroblasts into Distinct Induced Pluripotent States

This thesis investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the human somatic cell reprogramming into distinct states of pluripotency, it reveals distinct early human embryonic programs are the drivers of reprogramming into different states of pluripotency, highlighting the interplay between exogenous reprogramming factors and intracellular signalling manipulation for cell fate specification. This thesis also presents a strategy by modulating the pluripotent states to correct epigenetic aberrations found in the pluripotent cells and this strategy can be readily adapted to generate high quality pluripotent cells for applications in disease modelling, drug screening as well as cell replacement therapies.