NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) and Neural Stem Cells
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Stem Cells".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neural stem cells (NSCs) play a central role in brain development, homeostasis, and repair, and their dysregulation is implicated in a wide range of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Traditional animal models have provided invaluable insights into NSC biology; however, species-specific differences and limited translational predictability have highlighted the need for innovative experimental approaches. New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are emerging as powerful, human-relevant tools to study neural stem cell differentiation, function, and pathology. NAMs encompass a broad spectrum of advanced in vitro, in silico, and computational models, including human pluripotent stem-cell-derived neural systems, brain organoids, microphysiological systems, high-content imaging, and omics-based and AI-driven analyses. These approaches enable mechanistic investigations of NSC proliferation, differentiation, migration, and maturation under both physiological and pathological conditions, while reducing reliance on animal study. Importantly, NAMs offer unprecedented opportunities to model human-specific neurodevelopmental processes, gene–environment interactions, and neurotoxicity, as well as to accelerate drug discovery and safety assessment. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in NAM-based neural stem cell research, showcase innovative methodologies, and promote interdisciplinary dialogue. Contributions addressing fundamental NSC biology, disease modeling, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and translational applications are welcome. Together, these studies will advance our understanding of neural stem cells and support the broader adoption of NAMs in neuroscience research.
Dr. Tonggauang Wang
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- neural stem cells (NSCs)
- brain organoids
- neurodevelopmental disorders
- human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)
- translational neuroscience
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