Bone marrow adipose tissue: Harnessing metabolic regulation to shape bone maintenance and regeneration (P12)

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

Bone marrow adipocytes have long been considered a detrimental component of the bone microenvironment. More recent studies have revealed a more ambiguous situation, highlighting that marrow adipocytes as key components of the osteogenic niche may contribute nutrients and endocrine signals. This project aims to further investigate such signals to evaluate their suitability to enhance bone healing. Complementing these analyses, the impact of compromised metabolic health on MSC-driven marrow adipogenesis will be assessed. It is hypothesized that re-programming the endocrine quality of marrow adipocytes towards a metabolically healthy profile improves bone maintenance and regeneration in obese and diabetic individuals.

• 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: Privatdozentin Dr. Katharina Schmidt-Bleek; Professor Dr. Tim J. Schulz