Partner Profile and Search Form

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Date / 2007 / 01 / 24 / Deadline / 2007 / 04 / 19
CONTACT
Organisation / Fraunhofer Institute / Department / Cell Therapy & Immunology (IZI)
Contact person / Dr. Nicole zur Nieden / Male/female / F
Address / Deutscher Platz 5e / Email /
Postcode / 04103 / Telephone / +49-341 355 36 260
City / Leipzig / Fax / +49-341 355 36 109
Country / Germany / Website / www.izi.fraunhofer.de
YES / NO

Are you familiar with the European Framework Programme?

YES / NO

Have you participated in a former European FP?

If yes please indicate the project or activity:

Project
Title / Acronym
Project type / Large Collaborative Project / Small or medium Collaborative Project / Network of Excellence / Other: ______
Planned to participate as / partner / coordinator
Call identifier / HEALTH-2007-1.3-1
Workprogramme Topic you are interested in / Theme 1 / Theme 2
Your main research areas / Description of research activities / The application of pluripotent stem cells in embryotoxicity prediction requires a better understanding of processes underlying expansion, differentiation and apoptosis of stem cells. Therefore, the Fraunhofer IZI group of Applied Stem Cell Biology utilizes murine and primate embryonic stem cells, human multi-lineage progenitors and human embryonal carcinoma cell lines as a model to study the fundamental molecular decisions that a stem cell makes between proliferation, differentiation into osteoblasts and/or chondrocytes and cell death. The zur Nieden lab seeks to find answers to:
• The large-scale production of undifferentiated cells and stem-cell derived steoblasts/chondrocytes/cardiomyocytes/adipocytes/neural cell types (bioreactor expansion)
• The molecular signaling pathways that trigger differentiation into bone & cartilage (wnt, BMP, RA)
Expertise / Commitment offered:
· Automatable expansion of undifferentiated ESCs in suspension bioreactors
· Osteoblast and Chondrocyte differentiation in static and bioreactor suspension culture (large-scale)
· Differentiation of murine ESCs into cardiomyocytes, neuronal cell types and adipocytes
· Signalling pathways (wnt, bone morphogenetic proteins, retinoic acid, nitric oxide and more)
Description of the know-how/expertise and equipment you can provide / We have developed reliable differentiation protocols for pluripotent stem cells to develop into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, adipocytes and neural cell types. Quantitative real-time PCR for the respective tissue markers and pluripotency genes are routinely performed in our laboratory. We have applied this knowledge to the prediction of embryotoxic agents in the past [zur Nieden et al., 2001, Toxicol in vitro 15, 455; zur Nieden et al., 2004, Toxicol & Applied Pharmacol 94, 197].
Furthermore, we have developed scale-up processes for the expansion of embryonic stem cells in stirred suspension cultures and their subsequent differentiation into osteoblasts and chondrocytes in suspension. Our group disposes of an automated computer-controlled bioreactor system (DASGIP) in which stem cells can be cultured with minimal human handling. This bioreactor system holds two 4-vessel stirring plates and eight 100 mL vessels (extendable). Oxygen, CO2 and N2 and pH are adjusted automatically. The bioreactor system integrates an optional automated media change system.
The Fraunhofer IZI currently has all of the equipment required to carry out the above described research: 5 Cell culture laboratories (S2), 5 molecular biology laboratories (S2), 1 isotope lab and a fully equipped GMP-facility. The tissue culture rooms contain state-of-the-art laminar flow hoods, incubators (2 each) and clinical centrifuges. The major equipment including 3 96 well PCR Thermocyclers, 1 real-time PCR Thermocycler, 1 Cell sorter (S2), 1 BD FACScan for cell counts, div. centrifuges (ultracentrifuge etc.), ELISA reader (colorimetric, fluorescence, luminescence, UV), electroporator, colony picker, CASY cell counter, and DNA and Protein apparatuses. Furthermore, an inverted microscope, a binocular and a Leica fluorescence half motorized microscope including a 63x oil immersion objective, all equipped with CCD cameras and the latest imaging software are available at FhIZI.
Keywords specifying the expertise / Pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, osteoblast, chondrocyte, embryotoxicity, bioreactor, expansion
Have you already identified Partners for projects you are interested in? / Yes
No / Have you already contacted other partners? / Yes
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Rolf Stratmann

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