Small Molecules Take a Big Step by Converting Fibroblasts into Neurons

Direct lineage conversion could provide a rich source of somatic cell types for translational medicine, but concerns over the use of transgenic reprogramming factors have limited its potential. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Li et al. (2015) and Hu et al. (2015) identify small-molecule cocktails that can convert fibroblasts into functional neurons without exogenous genetic factors