FOR 717:  Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood (USSC)

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 20803802

Based on the long standing existence of the José Carreras Cord Blood Bank at the Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell-Therapeutics we discovered an adherently growing unrestricted somatic stem cell (USSC) in human cord blood. This rare clonal cellpopulation could robustly be expanded in vitro without spontaneous differentiation, but could be induced to differentiate into functional cell types of all three germinal layers.
This Research Unit focuses on basic mechanisms for cardiac- and neuro-regenerative potentials of the USSC. Of particular relevance is a project to generate germline cells from USSC. Molecular genetic regulation is analysed with emphasis on the role of microRNAs and epigenetics. Scientists from the medical and the mathematical-natural sciences faculties are closely collaborating.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Analysis of the Developmental Potential of USSC in vitro and in vivo (Applicant Schrader, Jürgen )
• Dissecting cell fate regulation in USSC (Applicant Wernet, Peter )
• Epigenetic control of functional maintenance and differentiation capacity of USSC (Applicant Uhrberg, Markus G. )
• Generation and functional characterization of differentiation pathways of USSC (Applicant Kögler, Gesine )
• In vitro Germ Cell Differentiation of Cord-Blood-derived Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells (USSC) (Applicant Schöler, Hans Robert )
• Neural differentiation potential of USSC in vitro and in vivo (Applicants Gottmann, Kurt ;  Müller, Hans Werner ;  Rose, Christine R. )
• Serviceprojekt (Applicant Wernet, Peter )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Wernet