BCRT
Model Systems for Regenerative Therapies
Johanna Bolander
The research group Model Systems for Regenerative Therapies leverages interdisciplinary approaches to interdisciplinary and translational research. Our goal is to improve our mechanistic pathophysiological understanding regarding musculoskeletal fibrosis to a level where we can offer effective solutions for clinical applications.
Research focus
For this, we use clinical research as indicators for specific patient populations, then study these in detail through mechanistic model systems, and thereafter engineer regenerative therapies within the musculoskeletal field. Our research is mainly focused on studying different aspects of the dynamic process fibrosis, scar tissue formation. Fibrosis is typically initiated by some sort of stress, such as injury, and is the result of failed tissue regeneration that is typically followed by the onset of degenerative diseases.
It is currently not known why certain injuries fail to heal, including those in the synovial joint. One of the most challenging aspects to study this is the lack of a healthy regenerative environment, that can be used as control or baseline. As a result, the failed regenerative environment can mainly be compared to a healthy control environment, leading to a lack of understanding what kind of processes regenerative therapies need to steer. To overcome this, we investigate patient-derived samples to identify the clinical environment in defined patient populations. Next, we use this information in the development of in vitro and in vivo model systems to further study underlying mechanisms and to test our hypothesis. In a final stage, we translate the obtained findings into regenerative therapies to steer failing regenerative environments to functional healing.
The initial damage in the joint leads to an immediate activation of the innate immune system where pro-inflammatory cells are recruited for phagocytosis and debris removal at the defect site. Next, these cells recruit the pro-regenerative inflammatory cells in order for functional regeneration to occur. It has been suggested that the cellular signaling cascades that steer the balance between the type, polarization and subsequent action of the recruited inflammatory cells regulated the fate of healing. Fibrosis affects the local and systemic immune systems, local tissue-specialized cells and their progenitors, cells from the vascular environment and well as cells from the peripheral nervous system. In addition, mechanical forces are potentially playing a crucial role in both the initiation and progression of finrosis. Since organ functions as local systems under regulation by the central and peripheral nervous system and vasculature, we are targeting our research efforts to understand how these interactions function during homeostasis and disease.
Grafik
Team
Hadeel Al-awar
Hadeel Al-awar
Bachelor Thesis Student from TU Berlin
hadeel.alawar@bih-charite.de
Hadeel comes from Syria and is currently studying biotechnology at the Technical University in Berlin. She is currently doing an internship at the BIH Charité and will be writing her Bachelor's thesis in the field of medical biotechnology. At the same time, she is a mom of a wonderful daughter and try to enjoy the fun in both directions of life.
Vartan Kazezian
Vartan Kazezian
PhD student
vartan.kazezian@bih-charite.de
Vartan comes from the USA (Southern California) and has a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biochemistry. He is a PhD candidate exploring the impact of oxidative stress in the development of post-traumatic Osteoarthritis. When not found in the lab, he’s often at museums and galleries, going to see live music, and travelling.
Aditya Rakesh Kombra
Aditya Rakesh Kombra (Kobra)
Technical Assistant
aditya-rakesh.kombra@bih-charite.de
Kobra is a graduate in biotechnological engineering, organismic and evolutionary biology and palaeontology. He organizes and manage the lab on a daily basis. When Kobra is not in the lab raising cells, he enjoys cooking or reading. Music consumes the remainder of Kobra's time as he plays the cello and the veena.
Emely Rosenow
Emely Rosenow
PhD student
emely.rosenow@bih-charite.de
Emely holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology with a specialization in Medical Biotechnology from the Technical University of Berlin. Within her studies and previous research endeavours, she gained experience in the development of in vitro models in various fields. As a PhD candidate, her research project focuses on the role of the synovial membrane in the initiation of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
Efthalia Roussou
Efthalia Roussou
Postgraduate ERASMUS student
Thalia comes from Greece, and is a biologist with a master´s degree in Basic Biomedical Sciences with specialization in Stem Cells - Cell and Gene Therapy (Regenerative Medicine). Thalia joined the team as an intern student within the framework of the Erasmus+ program for practice and is currently working on the characterization of an in vitro platform to study post traumatic osteoarthritis initiation. In her free time, Thalia enjoys going for walks around the city’s unique neighborhoods, exploring Berlin’s best coffee spots, visiting museums and sights.
Jiao Songsong Jiao
Jiao Songsong Jiao
PhD student
Songsong comes from China and holds a master’s degree in orthopedics, and is also an orthopedic surgeon. He is currently a PhD student researching the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the early onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. In his free time, he enjoys writing, running, and participating in various social activities.