Functional genomics workshop Top tips for human iPSC-derived cells

CRISPR-based gene perturbation is widely used in functional genomics, but applying CRISPR knockout, CRISPRi, and CRISPRa in post-mitotic human CNS cell types remains technically challenging.

This webinar focuses on CRISPR perturbation in human iPSC-derived CNS cells using bit.bio’s CRISPR-Ready ioCells, which stably express Cas9 or dCas9 fused to transcriptional effector domains. These cells are available as off-the-shelf research products and form the standardised cellular foundation for bit.bio’s CRISPR screening services, including microglia, glutamatergic neurons, motor neurons, and oligodendrocyte-like cells.

The session covers when to use different CRISPR modalities, guide delivery strategies for pooled and arrayed workflows, and proof-of-concept CRISPR screens showing data and end-to-end workflows in human neural models.

The webinar concludes with a live Q&A focused on experimental design, data interpretation, and practical considerations for applying CRISPR in post-mitotic human cells.

Key learnings: 

• When to use CRISPRko, CRISPRi, and CRISPRa for post-mitotic human CNS models
• What makes CRISPR perturbation challenging in human iPSC-derived neural cells, and how CRISPR-Ready ioCells help address these challenges
• How guide lentiviral versus synthetic guide delivery influence experimental scale, timing, and design
• What end-to-end CRISPR workflows look like in human neural models, from perturbation to functional readouts