CRTD group leaders and members are focusing on the following four research areas:

Hematology/Immunology

with the goal of improving regenerative therapies of the hematopoietic and lymphatic system and to develop new applications of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells for the regeneration of various tissues. 

At the CRTD research and clinical application is focused on human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In one of the biggest European bone marrow transplantation center at the Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, HSCs are transplanted to regenerate the hematopoietic system of patients after conditioning therapy (Prof. Ehninger, Prof. Bornhäuser). In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow are infused to modulate allogeneic immune effects and are seeded on surface engineered scaffolds to optimize and generate novel types of transplants for bone replacement (Prof. Bornhäuser in cooperation with Prof. Werner, Prof. Lauer, Prof. Günther and Prof. Zwipp).  Several groups work on identifying MSC subpopulations, imaging of MSC signaling (Dr. Anastassiadis, Dr. Bökel) or on dendritic cells, T-lymphocytes or B-cells (Prof. Jessberger, Dr. Kretschmer, Dr. Waskow, Dr. Bachmann). Preclinical research focuses on the stem cell niche to allow manipulations for optimized engraftment or on exploiting Treg cells for suppression of immunological rejection (Dr. Waskow, Dr. Kretschmer).

Diabetes

with the goal of treating diabetes by transplantation or regeneration of pancreatic islets.

Dresden is one of the leading diabetes centers in Germany. Pancreatic surgery (Prof. Saeger) and basic research on insulin producing beta-cells are well established. Several research groups at the CRTD analyze signaling pathways that regulate the proliferation of beta-cells or insulin secretion with the goal of identifying target proteins for pharmacological intervention (Prof. Solimena). In addition, scientists study obesity and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type II (Prof. Bornstein), and analyze the autoimmune response that leads to diabetes mellitus type 1 (Prof. Bonifacio). One goal of the CRTD is the improvement of immunotherapy for prevention of diabetes mellitus type 1 (Prof. Bonifacio). Moreover, several CRTD teams are improving procedures for beta-cell isolation and transplantation to explore novel strategies to cure diabetes (Prof. Saeger, Prof. Bornstein, Prof. Bonifacio, and Prof. Solimena).

Neurodegeneration 

with the goal of treating retinal degeneration and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease. 
 
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Cord Injury, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Retinal Degradation severely reduce the life quality of patients. To evaluate novel approaches for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson, scientists at the CRTD evaluate the beneficial effect of biomaterials transplanted together with neural stem cells (Prof. Reichmann, Prof. Storch together with Prof. Werner). As oppose to the situation in humans, regeneration of nerve cells occurs readily in other vertebrates, such as zebrafish and amphibians. Several teams try to understand this difference with the goal to establish novel concepts for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Prof. Tanaka, and Prof. Brand). In addition, scientists at the CRTD perform research to understand which environmental and genetic factors can influence neural stem cells expansion and differentiation (Prof. Kempermann, Prof. Huttner, and Dr. Calegari). The CRTD also focuses on cell based treatment of retinal degeneration (Dr. Ader together with Prof. Funk and Prof. Engelmann). 
 

Hard tissue replacement

with the goal of developing novel strategies for bone and cartilage replacement.

 Bone diseases are emerging as one of the major health risks in our ageing society. Novel therapeutic intervention needs to be developed for bone degeneration caused by osteoporosis as well as for local bone defects after trauma. Scientists at the CRTD develop and test new biomaterials for bone replacement (Dr. Pautot, Dr. Gelinsky, and Prof Worch). In addition, these biomaterials are seeded with various cells such as human or mouse mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts or osteoprogenitor cells to generate vital bone mass (Prof. Lauer, Prof. Günther, Prof. Zwipp, Prof. Bornhäuser, and Prof. Rösen-Wolff). These biomaterials are then evaluated in a clinical setting. Other teams at the CRTD focus on understanding biological processes that regulate bone formation to develop for example novel therapies for osteoporosis (Prof. Hofbauer, Prof. Hoflack). In addition, scientists at the CRTD screen for novel factors, which regulate hard tissue regeneration using zebrafish as an animal model (Dr. Antos, Dr. Weidinger).

The CRTD interest group is focusing on the following research area: 

Cardiovascular diseases

with the goal of developing novel strategies for regeneration of the heart and the vasculature. 

In near future, myocardial diseases will be treated by novel strategies of tissue regeneration and tissue preservation. Scientists and clinicians of the CRTD can apply these novel therapeutic applications in one of the largest academic German heart center (Prof. Strasser). In order to provide the basis for future regenerative heart therapies, CRTD scientists analyze novel endogenous cardiac stem cells (Prof. Ravens, Prof. Strasser) and study novel factors, which regulate heart regeneration, by using zebra fish as an animal model (Dr. Antos, Dr. Weidinger). Various groups at the heart center also explore novel strategies of tissue preservation by analyzing cellular signaling towards cell growth and cell death in the myocardium. Another important goal of the CRTD is to properly understand and control blood vessel formation. Various groups study molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis/vasculogenesis, use the acquired knowledge to regulate blood vessel formation in various transplants, or explore novel options for storage of vessels needed for transplantation (Prof. Morawietz, Prof. Breier, Prof. Deussen).

Within these four research areas and one interest group interdisciplinary cooperation between medicine, basic biological research, nanotechnology and materials science is fostered by several technology platforms, which provides access to cutting edge imaging methods, techniques for cell manipulation, biomaterials, clinical cell/tissue technologies, bioinformatics, genetic engineering and high throughput screening.