Olaf Bergmann’s Group

We are interested in studying mechanisms and turnover dynamics of cell renewal in various organ systems.

The main focus of our work is dedicated to obtain a better understanding of the regenerative capacity of the heart. We use radiocarbon birth dating to establish the age of human cardiomyocytes and animal models to explore novel factors that modulate cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity. We aim to provide the foundation for therapeutic strategies that can activate regenerative pathways to help the failing heart to heal from within. The Bergmann Lab addresses the following biological questions:

What is the magnitude of cardiomyocyte renewal in mammals?

What are the mechanisms that limit cardiomyocyte renewal?

Which factors can modulate cardiomyocyte renewal?

Group Members

Affiliated to Research:

Viveka Brockman Laboratory Research Assistant brockman@kth.se

August Lundquist Laboratory Research Assistant august.lundquist@stud.ki.se

Sophia Han Laboratory Research Assistant nan.sophia.han@stud.ki.se

Selected publications

Caught Red-Handed: Cycling Cardiomyocytes.
Bergmann O, Braun T
Circ. Res. 2016 Jan;118(1):3-5

No Evidence for Cardiomyocyte Number Expansion in Preadolescent Mice.
Alkass K, Panula J, Westman M, Wu TD, Guerquin-Kern JL, Bergmann O
Cell 2015 Nov;163(4):1026-36

Dynamics of Cell Generation and Turnover in the Human Heart.
Bergmann O, Zdunek S, Felker A, Salehpour M, Alkass K, Bernard S, et al
Cell 2015 Jun;161(7):1566-75

Cardiac regeneration in vivo: mending the heart from within?
Bergmann O, Jovinge S
Stem Cell Res 2014 Nov;13(3 Pt B):523-31

The age and genomic integrity of neurons after cortical stroke in humans.
Huttner HB, Bergmann O, Salehpour M, Rácz A, Tatarishvili J, Lindgren E, et al
Nat. Neurosci. 2014 Jun;17(6):801-3

Linda Lindell
10-02-2023