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EXC 62:  From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy (REBIRTH)

Subject Area Medicine
Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
Term from 2006 to 2019
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24102914
 
Final Report Year 2020

Final Report Abstract

Based on our long-standing expertise in clinical translation of basic research in particular for transplantation and regenerative medicine, the DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH explored biological principles for the development of regenerative therapies of genetic, acquired and degenerative diseases. The concept was carried by a consortium of Hannover´s universities (MHH, LUH, TiHo) and non-university institutes including three leading German research organisations (Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Society, Max Planck Society). Focusing on heart, lung, liver, and blood, we studied organ development and stem cell biology to develop therapeutic concepts for endogenous repair, and pioneered generation, modification, differentiation and cell expansion, namely of induced pluripotent stem cells. Close interaction of physicians, biologists, physicochemical scientists, and engineers facilitated the development of new concepts for cellular therapies, tissue engineering products and biohybrid devices. Next to many important publications, REBIRTH researchers placed various patent applications, created spin-off companies and initiated clinical trials, e.g. for post-partum cardiomyopathy, cell therapies for myocardial infarction and inherited immundeficiencies, and trials to implant tissue engineered heart valves with adaptive growth. Maintaining its original research structure of the first proposal in 2006, REBIRTH, from 2012 on, proceeded to utilise additional advanced platforms for cell processing, biomaterial development, imaging and biosafety assessment to accelerate the development of regenerative therapies. Participating in the definition of safety and efficacy and respecting specific ethical, clinical and regulatory prerequisites, novel concepts and study designs were specified for endogenous regeneration, cell and gene therapies, tissue engineering products, and biohybrid devices, and created added value in terms of safer and faster clinical application and economic exploitation of advanced therapies, for REBIRTH research and beyond. By promoting the cooperation with other fields of research and organ systems within our infrastructure, interdisciplinary concepts in regenerative medicine were pioneered, e.g. disease prevention and antiinfectious strategies. New tools for corporate governance were developed and greatly facilitated the management of the cluster. To develop our human resources, we expanded our educational responsibility beyond our REBIRTH’s PhD programme ‘Regenerative Sciences’, and supported programmes concerning gender equality. With this mission, and fostered by sustained support of the Land of Lower Saxony and of our institutions as well as fuelled by our own drive for excellent research, we established an innovative, sustainable, internationally visible centre for regenerative medicine. The Consortium REBIRTH will continue to exist as Research Centre for Translational Regenerative Medicine with a modified structure at the MHH with the involvement of the partner institutions.

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