Unit 2 - JRG Stem Cell Biology

Objectives

The direct reprogramming of somatic cells into pluripotent cells by retrovirus-mediated expression of pluripotency-associated genes is a promising approach to derive disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from patients. Subsequent differentiation of these disease-specific cells into hepatic cells might allow new insights into the pathophysiology of the respective disease.

Research Focus

We are currently focusing on the characterization of murine and human iPS cells, the hepatic differentiation of stem cells, the in vitro phenotypization of metabolic liver diseases, and cell-based therapies for liver disorders. Our group’s long-term aim is to identify new therapeutic targets using disease-specific iPS cells and their derivatives, and to evaluate stem cell-based treatments for metabolic/ genetic diseases. In the near future we will include micro- RNA analyses of several stages during liver development and hepatic cell fate specifications, as well as analyses of the epigenetic changes during these processes, in collaboration with partners of REBIRTH and the Max Planck Institute.

Collaborations

  • T. Moritz, H. Niemann, REBIRTH, RG Reprogramming: Generation of blood cell- and bone marrow-derived iPS cells
  • A. Schambach, C. Baum, Hannover Medical School, REBIRTH, JRG Hematopoietic Cell Therapy: Improved viral systems for the generation of iPS cells
  • M. Ott, Hannover Medical School, Dept. of Gastroenterology: in vivo evaluation of pluripotent cell-derived hepatic cells 
  • U. Martin, Hannover Medical School, LEBAO, REBIRTH, W3 Cardiorespiratory Tissue-Engineering: Cellular Approaches for Rare Pulmonary Diseases (CARPuD) 
  • B. Fleischmann, University of Bonn, Institute of Physiology: Disease-specific iPS cells
  • O. Brüstle, F. Edenhofer, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology: Disease-specific iPS cells 
  • J. Hescheler, University of Cologne, Institute of Neurophysiology: Cell based therapies: pluripotent germline stem cells 
  • T. Heinemann, PTH Vallendar, Dept. of Medical Ethics: induced totipotency
  • H.-G. Dederer, University of Passau, Dept. of Law: induced pluripotency

Further Research Projects

  • BMBF-program Alternative pluripotent stem cells: ‘Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, Coordination: H. R. Schöler, ‘subproject 2: iPS cells for metabolic liver disorders’
  • BMBF-program Rare diseases: Cellular Approaches for Rare Pulmonary Diseases (CARPuD), Coordination: U. Martin, central project ‘iPS-Service- Platform’ and subproject ‘a1-Antitrypsine- Deficiency’
  • BMBF-program ELSA: induced Totipotency
  • DFG-project: Regulation of liver regeneration by microRNAs (Amar Deep Sharma)
  • José Carreras Leukemia Foundation: Generation of human in vitro models for analyses of predisposing factors for childhood leukemias using induced pluripotent stem cells. D. Reinhardt, J.-H. Klusmann, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Teaching

  • Lecturer in the Ph.D. programme ‘Regenerative Sciences’
  • Co-supervisor of various Ph.D. students
  • Consultant at school projects addressing stem cell research (Cooperation with the evang. Kirche von Westfalen)

Equipment and Service Facilities

[Please find a list of all available equipment here]

Further Information

Contribution to the public stem cell debate: Interdisciplinary project for high school teachers: www.zellux.net 

Max Planck Institute for molecular Biomedicine: www.mpi-muenster.mpg.de

Staff

Cantz, Tobias Dr. Cantz.Tobias(at)mh-hannover.de
Eberle, Irina Dr. Eberle.Irina(at)mh-hannover.de
Puppe, Verena Dr. Puppe.Verena(at)mh-hannover.de
Sgodda, Malte Dr. Sgodda.Malte(at)mh-hannover.de
Sharma, Amar Deep Dr. Sharma.Amar(at)mh-hannover.de
Beh-Pajooh, Abbas Beh-Pajooh.Abbas(at)mh-hannover.de
Eggenschwiler, Reto Eggenschwiler.Reto(at)mh-hannover.de
Loya, Komal Loya.Komal(at)mh-hannover.de
Möbus, Selina Möbus.Selina(at)mh-hannover.de
Rani, Bhavna Rani.Bhavna(at)mh-hannover.de
Sgodda, Susan Sgodda.Susan(at)mh-hannover.de
Alfken, Susanne Alfken.Susanne(at)mh-hannover.de
André, Francoise Andre.Francoise(at)mh-hannover.de
Preusser, Margit Margit.Preusser(at)mpi-muenster.mpg.de
Winter, Iris Winter.I(at)mh-hannover.de