Regenerative medicine is a fascinating field which aims to harness the potential of biological therapeutics to achieve true regeneration of tissues and organs. While full of promises, there are still many challenges to address in this young discipline, mainly because biological therapeutics are complex in their composition and mode of action. It is fascinating to observe the growing understanding of their functions in health and disease, and to contribute small pieces to the big puzzle.

Our research explores the potential of cell-based therapies for both veterinary and human patients, who have many diseases and their pathophysiology in common. Our central expertise lies in the across-species characterization and cultivation of multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells, as well as in musculoskeletal regeneration. We work with novel cell culture models reflecting different pathophysiological conditions and involving primary cells of our target species to investigate the interplay between inflammation, extracellular matrix disease and progenitor cells. Moreover, we always seek for close collaboration with clinicians, aiming for direct translation from lab to clinic.

Our main research goals are:
•    To identify links between phenotypic and functional characteristics of mesenchymal progenitor cells
•    To understand differences and analogies between progenitor cells from different large animal species and humans
•    To characterize the multifaceted modes of action of mesenchymal progenitor cells in health and disease
•    To overcome context-dependent maladaptations of mesenchymal progenitor cells in disease