The Institute of Stem Cell Research investigates the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms for stem cell maintenance and stem cell differentiation. The research focus encompasses basic mechanisms regulating stem cell self-renewal using several sets of embryonic and adult stem cells in an interactive and comparative manner. A further focus of research in this institute is also the identification of differentiation mechanisms that enable the replacement of certain cell types in disease models by eliciting this program from endogenous stem cells or re-programming other endogenous cells for repair.

Neural Stem Cells Group (M. Götz):

The aim of this working group is to understand the mechanisms underlying neurogenesis sufficiently well to elicit these mechanisms also in the adult brain, where repair of degenerated neurons from endogenous sources has not yet been achieved. Using global gene expression analysis we could not only unravel the molecular mechanisms of disctinct modes of neurogenesis from glial cells during development, but also how to instruct glial cells in the injured brain towards the generation of new neurons. Moreover, by understanding the transcriptional program of neuronal fate determinants, we succeeded to efficiently reprogram mature glial cells towards fully functional neurons. Our work on mechanisms of adult neurogenesis also allowed to discover a new source of progenitor cells for glutamatergic neurons in the adult mose brain which can also be utilized for repair as these cells migrate after damage into the cerebral cortex and regenerate new glutamatergic projection neurons.

Hematopoiesistic Stem Cells Group (T. Schroeder):

The main interest of this working group is the molecular control of the lifelong maintenance of the blood system using from stem and progenitor cells. By developing and using novel bioimaging processes, which permit the precise quantification of individual cell fates over long periods of time, we were successful in answering central questions of hematopoietic stem cell research that had been contested disputed for decades in the field of hematopoietic stem cell research: we were able could to prove definitively both the existence of hemogenic endothelium and the instructive effect of extracellular cytokines on lineage fate decisionschoice of blood progenitor cells.

Endodermal Stem Cells Group (H. Lickert):

This previously funded Emmy-Noether research group focuses primarily on development and regeneration of the lung and pancreas. Both, embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation and mouse developmental studies are used to identify the progenitor cells and the respective signals, which lead to cell differentiation and organ formation. Live imaging of ES cells, mouse embryos and organ cultures are used to understand development and differentiation on a cell biological level. Various screenings have led to the identification of novel developmental genes implicated in organ formation and homeostasis. Moreover, the function of cilia in cellular communication and organogenesis of endodermal organs are also being investigated (European Re¬search Council Starting Grant, €1.5 mil for innovative research).

Project leaders are H. Lickert and T. Schroeder.
 

Working groups

1. Neural Stem Cells
    Head: Magdalena Götz

2. Analysis of endoderm development in the mouse
    Head: Heiko Lickert

3. Molecular control of haematopoietic stem cell fates
    Head: Timm Schroeder