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Innovative clinical therapies
Our background is bioengineering and surgery. We take a systems approach to translate basic sciences into technological and clinical disciplines. The clinical focus is on the development of systems for temporary liver support from outside the body, on growing human liver cells in bioreactors for liver progenitor cell transplantation, and developing skin cell-based therapies for burn disease patients.
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Enabling technologies
The group´s research focus is on building bioreactors that combine synthetic components with human cells to create support therapies. A special topic is the development of technologies for therapeutic stem cell applications.
Bioreactors provide technology platforms for the production of regenerative mediators by cell cultures. They also enable cell multiplication to provide transplantable reparative cells; they are being developed for extracorporeal organ support using cell cultures.
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Mission Statement
1
Provide expertise in 3-D perfusion culture R&D in regenerative medicine, focused on cell production for cell transplantation, regenerative mediator production by cells, and extracorporeal use of bioreactors for organ support.
2
Be in the forefront of multi-compartment bioreactor technology for advanced cell culture
studying multiple technology platforms using molecular, cell biological, biotechnological and engineering techniques
using bioengineering principles to develop, improve, and evolve our own technology platforms.
3
Application driven bioreactor and perfusion system development according to
- cell biology needs for a given application
- clinical needs for a given application.
4
Establish strategic collaboration on cell/molecular biology aspects with other groups.
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Summary of Activities
The Bioreactor Groups are working on bioengineering technologies providing in vitro 3D tissue- and stem cell culture technologies for Regenerative Medicine research. The goals of our labs are to understand the control of cell differentiation, in vitro proliferation at the cellular level, and to elucidate the role of cell density and perfusion, macroenvironmental gradients, oxygen tension, interactions between parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. Studies with collaborators aim
to understand such mechanisms at the molecular level.
We study the differentiation of liver stem cells using several model systems.
Our knowledge of cell behavior and bioengineering tools has allowed us to use fetal and adult liver progenitor cells to produce functional liver tissue in vitro. Our work suggests that critical macroenvironmental factors for liver stem cell development are needed similar as to maintain essential functions of the mature liver cells in vitro.
Using such in vitro culture model systems we study the role of multi-compartment high-density perfusion culture on 3D in vitro cell restructuring. We have shown that co-culturing parenchymal and non-paranechymal liver cells in four compartment 3D perfusion systems can achieve a neo formation of liver sinusoidal structures and space-of-Disse like structures. A re-structuring of the canal of Hering (the liver stem cell niche) enabled us to proliferate liver progenitor cells in vitro.
In addition to liver cells, we are also working on skin-, bone marrow-, neuronal cells and embryonic stem cell lines.
Applying the technology platforms, we develop clinical translation bioreactor technology for the provision of cells for Regenerative Medicine and blood perfusion systems for extracorporeal organ assist.
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Contact Information
BERLIN:
Dr. med. Vet. Katrin Zeilinger
Medical Faculty Charité - Campus Virchow Klinikum, Forschungshaus,
Augustenburger Platz 1; 13353 Berlin, Germany
Phone: ++49-30-450-559218, Fax: ++49-30-450-559909
katrin.zeilinger@charite.de
PITTSBURGH:
Jörg C. Gerlach M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh - McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
3025 East Carson Street; Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA
Phone: ++1-412-235 5150, Fax: ++1-412-235 5110
joerg.gerlach@CellNet.org
PALERMO:
Fabio Triolo, D.d.R., M.Phil., Ph.D.
ISMETT - Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies
Via E. Tricomi, 1; 90127 Palermo ITALY
Phone: ++39-091-219.2484, Fax: ++39-091-219.2422
ftriolo@ISMETT.edu
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