Christopher Navara

Christopher Navara is a Professor of Research in the Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. He serves as the Director of the UTSA Stem Cell Core, a central facility supporting stem cell research across the institution and beyond. His work bridges basic science and translational applications in regenerative medicine.

Dr. Navara holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to joining UTSA in 2008, he was the Director of the Stem Cell Core at the Pittsburgh Development Center, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical School.

His research focuses on the cellular biology of pluripotent stem cells, particularly in modeling neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. He utilizes both human and non-human primate stem cells to derive functional neuronal subtypes, such as dopaminergic neurons, and tests potential therapies in preclinical settings. His interests include cell cycle regulation, mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, and organoid development. Emerging technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and 3D organoids are integrated into his work.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in human pluripotent stem cell differentiation toward functional neuronal phenotypes, with emphasis on electrophysiological validation and disease modeling. His 2016 study demonstrated fully functional dopaminergic neurons derived from iPSCs, expressing key neuronal markers and exhibiting physiological activity.

• Director, UTSA Stem Cell Core
• Faculty member, Brain Health Consortium
• Provider of training courses in human pluripotent stem cells
• Facilitator of IRB-approved patient sample acquisition and stem cell derivation for collaborative research

Dr. Navara leads a core facility that supports numerous grants and collaborative projects, enabling researchers to access stem cell technologies, gene editing, and differentiation protocols. The Stem Cell Core operates with established fee structures for UT and non-UT system users and provides comprehensive services from reprogramming to organoid generation.

The core is equipped with advanced instrumentation including confocal microscopy, electrophysiology systems, nucleofection, ultracentrifugation, and biorepository software (Freezerworks), supporting a wide range of experimental workflows.