Clarifying the epigenetic control mechanisms of the bone regenerative capacity in MSCs to tap new cell sources for adoptive cell therapy (P02)

• Subject Area: Medical Informatics and Medical Bioinformatics
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427826188

Multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) hold great promise for bone regeneration, but their variable differentiation potential may be a reason for their failure in clinical trials. Although bone marrow-derived MSCs are effective, their invasive collection is a clinical limitation. This project aims to improve bone repair in patients with delayed fractures by increasing the bone regenerative capacity of adipose-derived MSCs (ATSCs). Comprehensive epigenetic profiling will be used to identify key regulatory elements and transcription factors essential for successful osteochondral differentiation. Optimised CRISPR-Cas9-based epigenetic editing will be used to confer significant bone regeneration capacity to ATSCs to advance MSC-based therapy.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1444: Directed Cellular Self-Organization to Advance Bone Regeneration
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Heads: Dr. Sven Geißler, since 1/2025; Professorin Dr. Julia Polansky-Biskup; Professor Dr. Hans-Dieter Volk, until 12/2024