Modeling human lung development and disease using pluripotent stem cells

Directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into mature cells, tissues and organs holds major promise for the development of novel approaches in regenerative medicine, and provides a unique tool for disease modeling and drug discovery. Sometimes underappreciated is the fact that directed differentiation of hPSCs also provides a unique model for human development, with a number of important advantages over model organisms. Here, I discuss the importance of using human stem cell models for understanding human lung development and disease.