Jiao Dong defended her Ph.D. thesis on the 8th of February 2023. Inspired by the memory of patients she met during her time as a student studying oral surgery in China, she has spent the past four years researching a regenerative medicine strategy that can be used to repair the function of the salivary gland. In this interview, we learn more about her innovative research efforts, the inspiration b

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/bioengineering-and-cell-derived-strategies-salivary-gland-regeneration-phd-interview-jiao-dong - 2025-08-29

Last month, Ella Quist defended her Ph.D. thesis. After beginning her research journey as a master’s student within our Ph.D. Preparatory Program, she dedicated the last several years to developing more efficient methods that can be used to generate functional and mature astrocytes for disease modeling of neurological disorders. In this interview, we learn more about her efforts to facilitate futu

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/generating-human-astrocytes-disease-modeling-phd-interview-ella-quist - 2025-08-29

Bildkälla: iStock/Pedre During the fetal stage, a number of so-called cell programs run that are vital to the development of the fetus. In a study published in Cell Reports, researchers from Lund Stem Cell Center at Lund University demonstrate that one of these fetal programs appears to protect against acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). “We have used an experimental mouse model that always results in

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/new-insights-fetal-development-may-protect-against-leukaemia - 2025-08-29

Hani Alsafadi defended his Ph.D. thesis on the 13th of February, 2023. With a longstanding interest in biomedical research and a passion for better understanding one of the least regenerative organs in the body, the lung, he has spent the past four years helping to uncover some of the mechanisms that may drive a lung disease currently without a cure, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In this intervie

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/exploring-role-yap-and-taz-lung-epithelium-phd-interview-hani-alsafadi - 2025-08-29

​​​​​​​Did you know that about 70% of rare diseases begin in childhood? How about that 1 in 5 cancers are considered a rare disease? Or that nearly three-quarters of all rare diseases are genetic diseases? With more than 6,000 rare diseases known to impact the lives of an estimated 300 million people around the world – rare diseases are all too common. Limited knowledge of these diseases often res

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/shining-spotlight-rare-disease-research - 2025-08-29

On 13th of February, a transplant of stem cell-derived nerve cells was administered to a person with Parkinson’s at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden. The product has been developed by Lund Stem Cell Center researchers at Lund University and it is now being tested in patients for the first time. The transplantation product is generated from embryonic stem cells and functions to replace the dopamin

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/first-patient-receives-milestone-stem-cell-based-transplant-parkinsons-disease - 2025-08-29

On 03 March 2023, Jenny Mattsson defended her Ph.D. thesis. With the goal to broaden the availability of antibody-based drugs for patients with cancer and other diseases, she has spent the past several years working to develop new methods that can be used to identify new antibodies and antibody targets. In this interview, we learn more about her research, how she has simultaneously juggled doing a

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/new-methods-phenotypic-antibody-discovery-phd-interview-jenny-mattsson - 2025-08-29

Highschool students learn how the extraordinary regenerative powers of salamanders can help us discover new ways to fight diseases in humans in a UniStem Day 2023 workshop led by researchers in the Leigh Group. Have you ever wondered what it takes to grow a brain in a petri dish or how scientists use viruses to fight genetic diseases? These are just some of the fascinating topics explored on UniSt

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/inspiring-tomorrows-scientists - 2025-08-29

Sofie Mohlin's research focuses on neuroblastoma. Photo: Åsa Hansdotter. There is a large carton of chicken eggs on the bench in Sofie Mohlin's laboratory. They have been delivered during the morning and soon they will be placed in the 37-degree heat of the incubator so that the embryo can develop. Already 42 hours after fertilization, researchers can begin their experiments to study how neuroblas

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/eggs-can-help-us-understand-neuroblastoma - 2025-08-29

Cristian Bellodi and Maciej Cieśla. Photo: Helena Fritz Researchers at Lund Stem Cell Center and Lund University's Faculty of Medicine have determined a novel mechanism linking the metabolism of ribonucleic acids, RNA, to the development of leukemia in myelodysplastic syndrome patients, MDS. In a study published in the Molecular Cell journal, they explain what makes hematopoietic stem cells acqui

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/what-makes-blood-stem-cells-transform-regulation-rna-splicing-may-be-answer - 2025-08-29

In 2023, the Lund Stem Cell Center turns 20 years old. This will be celebrated with a conference attended by some of the world's leading stem cell researchers. Image: iStock/Maksim Tkachenko For two decades, researchers at Lund University's strategic research area, Lund Stem Cell Center, have focused on developing and refining stem cell research to improve human health. Now that the 20th anniversa

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/vision-reality-20-years-cutting-edge-research-lund-stem-cell-center - 2025-08-29

Researchers from Lund Stem Cell Center are coming together with colleagues across Lund University to shape the future of healthcare. A new University-wide seed funding initiative seeking to support emerging research topics that benefit society will see interdisciplinary teams of neuroscience, medicine, and biotechnology researchers attempt to develop new, innovative, patient-specific disease model

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/interdisciplinary-teams-lund-university-unite-develop-patient-tailored-disease-models - 2025-08-29

A model of a proteasome, a protein complex which degrades unneeded or damaged proteins. Image from: Getty Images. A recent study conducted by researchers at Lund University's Lund Stem Cell Center, and published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, has unraveled the intricate inner workings of UM171—a molecule known for its ability to support blood stem cells. These findings not only highlight

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/decoding-inner-workings-blood-stem-cell-boosting-molecule - 2025-08-29

An image of co-cultures with neuronal projections in purple and astrocytes in green. Image credit: Isaac Canals. Lund Stem Cell Center researchers have published a new study that reveals the role of astrocytes in the development of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Their findings, now in the journal Brain Communications, provide valuable insights into the cellular mechanisms of the disease and open u

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/new-study-reveals-astrocytes-role-frontotemporal-dementia - 2025-08-29

Fredrik Nilsson successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis on May 10, 2023. For the last four years, Fredrik has explored the use of patient-specific cells in cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease to identify strategies to safeguard these transplanted cells from disease-related degeneration. In this interview, he tells us about his findings, their potential implications for future therapies

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/investigating-cell-replacement-therapy-parkinsons-disease-phd-interview-fredrik-nilsson - 2025-08-29

Lund Stem Cell Center recently hosted its Image Competition for 2023, providing a glimpse into the diverse world of stem cell science through the lens of art. The competition showcased the dedication, creativity, and scientific excellence that continue to drive our pursuit of knowledge in stem cell research. Researchers from all disciplines and experience levels at Lund Stem Cell Center participat

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/stem-cell-science-through-lens-art - 2025-08-29

Postdoctoral researcher Vivien Horvath investigates X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder. New research is underway at Lund University, led by Dr. Vivien Horvath, a postdoctoral researcher at Lund Stem Cell Center. Supported by a new grant from the Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP), Vivien aims to improve our understanding of XDP, a rar

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/exploring-role-jumping-genes-x-linked-dystonia-parkinsonism - 2025-08-29

Mohamed Eldeeb defended his Ph.D. thesis on June 9, 2023. With a passion for scientific discovery with clinical impact, Mohamed has dedicated the last four years to unraveling the mysteries as to why some children develop pediatric leukemia and others don’t. His research shed light on the mechanisms that prevent and suppress leukemia initiation, paving the way for more effective and targeted treat

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/mechanisms-initiation-and-suppression-pediatric-leukemia-phd-interview-mohamed-eldeeb - 2025-08-29

Lund Stem Cell Center welcomes the Targeted Therapies in Leukemia Research Group, led by molecular biologist Marcus Järås, as its newest member. With a strong background in translational research and a focus on developing innovative therapies, the group brings extensive expertise and a unique perspective to our stem cell science community at Lund University. Marcus Järås, a former student of the L

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/targeted-therapies-leukemia-research-group-joins-lund-stem-cell-center - 2025-08-29

Lund University is establishing a university-wide development center for advanced therapies, LU-ATMP. It is an effort to move medical research with the potential for new groundbreaking therapies to reach patient groups where traditional medicines are not enough. "We want to contribute to the vision of Sweden becoming a world leader in the development and availability of advanced therapies," says E

https://www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/new-atmp-center-lund-university - 2025-08-29