Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Cellular Therapies

 Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is an effective therapy for a range of diagnoses, mostly patients with malignancies 

Today, mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) that are harvested from the blood by standard apheresis techniques are used for transplantation. Our group is part of a major research consortium (CellCare) aiming to develop novel and improved stem cell collection and separation technology based on free flow acoustophoresis.

•  Read more about the research consortium CellCare 

Furthermore, we develop translational cell therapies to provide the best possible transplants for the patients, especially for those undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. State-of-the art ex-vivo manipulation techniques (selection/depletion/expansion) are utilized to improve hematopoietic engraftment, post-transplant immunological function and GvHD control.

 Biology of (non-)hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells 

The cell therapy development is backed up by our preclincial research program on basic aspects of (stem) cell biology. Currently, one of the main projects focuses on the development and function of so-called marrow stromal cells (MSC). Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and in-vivo mouse models we aim to identify the primary stromal stem cells and their distinct developmental stages.

Furthermore, we investigate tumor-tissue-derived MSC and their possible role and function in tumor growth and metastasis.

Josefina Dykes

2011-01-13 Josefina Dykes gives a lecture in the Hematopoiesis seminar series. Title: Efficient removal of platelets from peripheral blood progenitor cell products using a novel micro-chip based acoustophoretic platform