Stem cell research covers a broad range of different but intermingled research areas. A better understanding of different aspects like cellular mechanisms, signaling pathways, epigenetics and interacting factors, has been the focus of the individual areas.

The increasing hope for stem cells to become a future therapeutic method has set new standards concerning the knowledge required about stem cell biology. A huge step forward to understand human biology and disease mechanisms as well as in developing new system for cell replacement strategies has been made with the increasing exploitation of 3D self-assembling organoids or tissue engineering. Track-record expertise of the supervisors with 3D systems includes -but is not limited to-, in ovo studies of chick development , organoid culture systems, microfluidic bioreactors (CHIPS), culture matrices, and others. Obviously, stem cells types are very heterogeneous in their particular features such as differentiation capacity, proliferation, migration, and their distinct needs, including the requirements of their niches.

Nevertheless, even pluripotent stem cells and adult multipotent stem cells still share a variety of common mechanisms, which are involved in stem cell survival, maintenance, and exit from stemness into differentiation. The expertise of the SCeNT PIs covers a broad spectrum of different stem cell sources and subtypes, different methodology including 3D culture systems and thus provides a unique setting to address the issues of heterogeneity and common mechanisms.

The SCeNT framework provides the basis and potential to study common mechanisms that are essential for stem cells during development, for therapeutic applications, and as a tool to model diseases. We intend not only to investigate distinct intrinsic factors involved in cell differentiation and development, but also to find relevant signaling cues.

To bring our research network close to recent advances in the research community, we have broadly implemented the 3-dimensional platform in our projects to mimic physiological cell behavior in close proximity to the in vivo situation. Within the consortium, research in 3D systems include extracellular matrix-based platforms, advanced 3D in vitro and in vivo models as well as organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells and CHIP technology.

Based on a common fundament of advanced stem cell methodologies and knowledge, SCeNT follows two main routes that address closely related, but very diverse topics of stem cell science. The first approach consists of groups working on cell and embryonic development and investigate factors during cell and tissue differentiation, which are known to be involved in early mechanisms/development of diseases. The second approach directly focusses on stem cell models of diseases and therapies. The latter groups will exploit stem cells to shed light on disease mechanisms, disease progression or phenotypes, and will test stem cells as potential therapeutic targets.

Together, our systems create a novel platform to study organogenesis and disease phenomena. Our technological approaches such as CHIP, CrispR/CAS and OMICS methods (e.g. transcriptomics, quantitative/targeted proteomics and interactomic networks of disease proteins) as well as single cell analysis and cell interactions will allow a detailed characterization of developmental events and disease phenotypes. Such approaches do not only improve the understanding of mechanisms of a disease, but aim to identify new biomarkers and pathways that could prospectively be targeted and therefore potentially be used for therapeutic approaches.

Furthermore, the combined approaches of medical and natural science researchers will provide a link between basic and translational research and the potential for a “bench to clinic and back” approach not very often found in the academic landscape of Germany.