Stem Cell Center
Stem cells are unique in their capacity to proliferate and replacing cells – often life-long. However, many adult organs, such as the brain or the pancreas, have no or few stem cells. The Department’s mission builds on our pioneer approach to reprogram local cells towards the lost cell type identity in such organs and on our pioneer discoveries on epigenetic mechanisms of reprogramming. The key proteins that enable such fate conversion have been all identified for their role during development, when all relevant cell types are generated. Our Department therefore combines in a world-wide unique combination expertise in stem cells, developmental mechanisms of fate specification and plasticity including a strong epigenetic expertise with injury models and direct reprogramming.
Replacing lost or damaged cells is the cornerstone of regenerative medicine. To achieve this, we need to understand not only how cells acquire their specific identity but also how cell plasticity is regulated. Helmholtz Munich’s Stem Cell Center is unique worldwide in combining leading expertise in cell plasticity, epigenetics, and direct reprogramming.
Recent Publications
2025 Nature Neuroscience, Volume 28, pages 457–469, 2025
Astrocyte heterogeneity reveals region-specific astrogenesis in the white matter.
2025 Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 53, Issue 4, 28 February, 2025
2025 Cell. Volume 188, Issue 4, P1156-1174.E20, February 20, 2025
2024 Nat Neurosci. 2024 Jul 2.
2024 Cell Discovery volume 10, Article number: 42, 2024
Engineered, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling Cas13d enables highly efficient cytosolic RNA targeting
2024 Neuron P1117-1132.e9, April 03, 2024
2024 Nature Communication 15(1):2866
2024 Nature 625, pages 401–409, 2024
Emergence of replication timing during early mammalian development
2023 Nature Medicine 29, 3149-3161
Injury-specific factors in the cerebrospinal fluid regulate astrocyte plasticity in the human brain