PEOPLE
DANIELLA RYLANDER OTTOSSON, PhD
Principal Investigator
Daniella Rylander Ottosson holds an MSc in Biomedicine from Lund University, Sweden, with a specialization in neuroscience through exchange studies at the University of Toronto, Canada. She earned her PhD at Lund University under the supervision of Prof. Angela Cenci Nilsson, focusing on pharmacological interventions and animal models of Parkinson’s disease. Her thesis, defended in 2010, received the Prize for Best PhD Thesis from the Parkinson Foundation Sweden.
She completed her postdoctoral training at IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia in Rome, Italy, in the laboratory of Prof. Paolo Calabresi, where she studied how cell transplants could restore neural circuitry in models of Parkinson’s disease. This work was part of an EU-funded research network. In 2013, she returned to Lund to establish a specialized electrophysiology platform within Prof. Malin Parmar’s lab, where she led pioneering work on cell repair and neuronal reprogramming, supported by independently secured competitive research grants.
Since 2018, Dr. Rylander Ottosson has led her own experimental research group at Lund University, consisting of approximately 10 members. Her lab focuses on neuronal repair and disease modeling using stem cell and direct reprogramming strategies, targeting disorders associated with interneuron dysfunction such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates human neuron reprogramming with functional circuit integration in the living brain. In recognition of her innovative work, she was appointed a Wallenberg Academy Fellow in 2021, providing national long-term funding and support for her research.
Her laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure for human stem cell culture, in vivo disease modeling, viral vector development, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and transcriptomic profiling. Dr. Rylander Ottosson also plays an active role in national strategic initiatives in neuroscience and stem cell research, serving in leadership roles, advisory capacities, and with teaching responsibilities at Lund University.
In 2025, she was awarded a STIAS Fellowship at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, South Africa.
EFRAIN CEPEDA-PRADO
Assistant Researcher
Biography
Efrain studies the synaptic integration and connectivity of in vivo reprogrammed mouse and human neurons, with the aim of developing future therapies for diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Schizophrenia. He is using techniques such as patch-clamp electrophysiology, 3D morphology, and RNA sequencing at a single-cell level.
Academic Background
Dr. rer. nat. Natural sciences - Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
M.Sc. - Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
B.Sc. - Pontifical Xavierian University, Bogotá, Colombia.
Publications
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Stamouli CA, Degener A, Cepeda-Prado E, Bruzelius A, Andersson E, Giacomoni J, Vorgeat AD, Kidnapillai S, Klementieva O, Parmar M, Olariu V, Rylander Ottosson D. Generating human parvalbumin interneurons through 3D glia reprogramming. bioRxiv. 2024:2024.09.06.609855.
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Gvazava N, Konings SC, Cepeda-Prado E, Skoryk V, Umeano CH, Dong J, Silva IAN, Ottosson DR, Leigh ND, Wagner DE et al. Label-free high-resolution photothermal optical infrared spectroscopy for spatiotemporal chemical analysis in fresh, hydrated living tissues and embryos. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2023 Nov.
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Canals I, Comella-Bolla A, Cepeda-Prado E, Avaliani N, Crowe JA, Oburoglu L, Bruzelius A, King N, Pajares MA, Pérez-Sala D, Heuer A, Rylander Ottosson D, Soriano J, Ahlenius H. Astrocyte dysfunction and neuronal network hyperactivity in a CRISPR engineered pluripotent stem cell model of frontotemporal dementia. Brain Communications. 2023.
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Giacomoni J, Habekost M, Cepeda-Prado E, Mattsson B, Ottosson DR, Parmar M, Kajtez J. Protocol for optical clearing and imaging of fluorescently labeled ex vivo rat brain slices. STAR Protoc. 2023 Jan 18;4(1):102041.
SRISAIYINI KIDNAPILLAI
Research Engineer
Biography
Srisaiyini’s Ph.D. studies at Deakin University, Australia focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of commonly prescribed Bipolar disorder drugs in order to understand how they bring about therapeutic effects (2015-2018). After joining the Ottosson Lab in 2019, she has been working on in vivo direct reprogramming of glial cells into interneurons. She was supported by Wenner Gren postdoctoral fellowship for education in Sweden (2020-2021). From 2022, Srisaiyini has been working as a Research Engineer in the group,
Academic Background
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) – Deakin University, Australia
Masters in Genetic Diagnostics -University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience) - Monash University, Australia
Publications
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Stamouli CA, Degener A, Cepeda-Prado E, Bruzelius A, Andersson E, Giacomoni J, Vorgeat AD, Kidnapillai S, Klementieva O, Parmar M, Olariu V, Rylander Ottosson D. Generating human parvalbumin interneurons through 3D glia reprogramming. bioRxiv. 2024:2024.09.06.609855.
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Kidnapillai S, Ottosson DR. Functional Assessment of Direct Reprogrammed Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo. Methods Mol Biol (August 2021).
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Bruzelius A, Kidnapillai S, Drouin-Ouellet J, Stoker T, Barker RA, Rylander Ottosson D. Reprogramming Human Adult Fibroblasts into GABAergic Interneurons. Cells. 2021;10(12):3450. Published 2021 Dec 8.
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Birtele B, Sharma Y, Kidnapillai S, Lau S, Stoker T.B., Barker R.A., Rylander Ottosson D, Drouin‐Ouellet J, Parmar M. Dual modulation of neuron-specific microRNA and the REST complex promotes functional maturation of human adult induced neurons. Federation of European Biochemical Society letters, 2019; 593 (23); 3370-3380.
GIANLUIGI NOCERA
Postdoctoral Fellow
Biography
Gianluigi Nocera studies the reprogramming of human glial progenitor cells into GABAergic interneurons in vivo, aiming to develop therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. His research focuses on enhancing the synaptic integration and functional recovery of these reprogrammed neurons using post-operative physical exercise. Techniques employed include immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNA sequencing, and electrophysiology to assess neuronal reprogramming and network connectivity.
Academic Background
PhD in Natural Sciences – Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Germany.
MSc in Neuroscience – University of Trieste, Italy.
BSc in Biological Sciences – University of Naples, Italy.
ANNA HAMMARBERG
Research Engineer
CLAIRE PIOCHON
Research Engineer
Biography
As a research engineer at the StemTherapy & MultiPark Joint Electrophysiology Core Facility at Lund University, Claire Piochon is responsible for planning and executing electrophysiology experiments (such as patch-clamp and MEA) as well as live imaging techniques (including optogenetics, calcium imaging, confocal, and two-photon microscopy). These experiments utilize central nervous system (CNS) preparations (e.g., acute slices, organotypic, or primary cultures) and stem cell-based models (such as cultures, spheroids, and organoids). In addition to conducting experiments, Claire’s role includes resource allocation, user training, and project management to optimize the facility's efficiency. Her primary objective is to foster collaboration and innovation within the multidisciplinary research environment.
CHRISTINA-ANASTASIA STAMOULI
PhD Student
Biography
After completing her master's studies in Biomedicine at Lund University and working as a research assistant in the lab, Christina is now pursuing her Ph.D., from March 2022. She is focusing on generating interneurons by direct reprogramming of glial cells and dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular decision during the reprogramming process.
Academic Background
Master of Science (Biomedicine)-Lund University, Sweden
Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Genetics)- Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh), Greece
Publications
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Stamouli CA, Degener A, Cepeda-Prado E, Bruzelius A, Andersson E, Giacomoni J, Vorgeat AD, Kidnapillai S, Klementieva O, Parmar M, Olariu V, Rylander Ottosson D. Generating human parvalbumin interneurons through 3D glia reprogramming. bioRxiv. 2024:2024.09.06.609855.
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Giacomoni J, Bruzelius A, Stamouli Christina-Anastasia and Rylander Ottosson D. Direct conversion of Human Stem cell-derived Glial Progenitor Cells into GABAergic Interneurons. Cells, 2020; 9 (11); 2451.
CONSTANZA ARETIO MEDINA
PhD Student
Biography
Constanza completed her master’s degree in advanced therapies at the Francisco de Vitoria University and after finishing her internship at Lund University working with stem cells for regenerative therapy, she joined the Ottosson group to study the integration of human interneurons in organotypic cultures. She will focus on studying the transplantation of these cells into different in vivo systems and assess their maturation, function and integration into the neural circuitry.
Academic Background
Master in Advanced Therapies-Francisco de Vitoria University, Spain
Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy)-University of Seville, Spain
Publications
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Palma-Tortosa, S., Martínez-Curiel, R., Aretio-Medina, C., Avaliani, N., Kokaia, Z. Organotypic Cultures of Adult Human Cortex as an Ex vivo Model for Human Stem Cell Transplantation and Validation. J. Vis. Exp. (190), e64234, doi:10.3791/64234 (2022).
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Martinez-Curiel R, Jansson L, Tsupykov O, Avaliani N, Aretio-Medina C, Hidalgo I, Monni E, Bengzon J, Skibo G, Lindvall O, Kokaia Z, Palma-Tortosa S. Oligodendrocytes in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical grafts remyelinate adult rat and human cortical neurons. Stem Cell Reports. 2023 May 10:S2213-6711(23)00144-3. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.04.010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37236198.