Cells for Regenerative Medicine
Prof. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla is exploring how stem cells can be generated specifically by understanding their characteristics and their properties. Her particularly innovative approach involves reprogramming cells into a totipotent state – a state from which any cell type in the body can develop. She refers to this concept as “cells à la carte,” a strategy with the potential to fundamentally transform regenerative medicine by enabling new treatments for degenerative diseases and brain injuries.
“Our research has identified factors that can program cells. This opens entirely new avenues for therapies that were previously thought impossible.”
Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
“Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla has redefined our understanding of early development and the mechanisms that determine cell identity,” says Prof. Martin Hrabě De Angelis, Member and Spokesperson of the Executive Board (acting). “Her pioneering research and creative vision continue to set new standards in stem cell biology and inspire scientists worldwide. We are proud to have her among us as a leading figure who perfectly represents Helmholtz Munich’s values of excellence, curiosity, and collaboration.”
International Career
Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla leads the Stem Cell Center (rotating) and the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells at Helmholtz Munich. She is also Director of Biomedicine at the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus and professor in the Faculty of Biology at the LMU in Munich. As a scientific leader, she emphasizes diversity, teamwork, and the development of early-career researchers.
Born in Mexico, Torres-Padilla studied biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and earned her PhD at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. As a post-doctoral fellow at the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge, she explored the role of histone modifications in determining cell fate. In 2008, she established her own research group, focusing on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying cell reprogramming and cellular plasticity. In recognition of her pioneering contributions, she was awarded the 2025 Leibniz Prize, Germany’s most prestigious research award, announced in December 2024.
