Method for producing otic progenitors

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved method for generating otic progenitor cells. The invention also relates to uses of such otic progenitor cells, for example as a medicament (e.g. in the treatment of hearing loss, deafness or other auditory disorder associated with loss of inner ear function) and/or in drug screening methods.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An otic progenitor cell obtained by the method comprising the sequential steps of:
 i) culturing a progenitor cell under conditions sufficient to inhibit Wnt signalling and activate FGF signalling for a first time period sufficient to induce upregulation of one or more otic cell markers; and   ii) culturing the progenitor cell of step i) under conditions sufficient to activate Wnt signalling and reduce but not completely abolish FGF signalling relative to step i) for a second time period sufficient to maintain upregulated expression of said one or more otic cell markers,   wherein the conditions of step (i) comprise supplementation with first one or more FGFs at a concentration of 1-100 ng/ml each, and wherein the conditions of step (ii) comprise supplementation of second one or more FGFs at a total concentration of less than or equal to 80% of total FGF concentration used in step (i).