Fredrik Lanner

Fredrik Lanner

Professor
Telephone: +46852483671
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, Hiss N våning 7, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H9 Klinisk vetenskap, intervention och teknik, H9 CLT Obstetrik o gynekologi Lanner, 141 52 Huddinge

Research

  • The Lanner lab aims to:
    1. Uncover the fundamental principles underlying how the first cell types established in the early human embryo from totipotent morula, to blastocyst, implantation and gastrulation. For this we are utilising embryo culture and stem cell based embryo models. Please visit our human embryogenesis reference atlas Research supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation, Swedish Research Councile


    2. Develop embryonic stem cell based strategies. We have establish a first clinically compliant good manufacturing practice (GMP) grade human embryonic stem cell line, KARO1. Supported by StratRegen, Vinnova

    3. Treatment of Diabetes. We are actively working to establish methodology to efficiently produce glucose responsive pancreatic islets with correct cellular composition. Supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation, Barndiabetesfonden, Vinnova

    4. Treatment of age-related macula degeneration (AMD). We have developed and manufactured CellThRPE1, an embryonic stem cell based cell product together with Karolinska Center for Cell Therapy to undertake a phase 1 clinical trial at S:t Eriks Eye hospital with support from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation The Erling Person foundation.

    5. Treatment of retinopathy we are now establishing efficient methods to establish photoreceptors to be transplanted alone or together with RPE cells. Supported by Promobilia

    Current Lab members:
    Dr. Elisabeth Moussaud, Research Coordinator Lanner and Damdimopoulou labs

    Dr. Cheng Zhao, Research Specialist shared with Sophie Petropoulos. Bioinformatics in embryo and stem cell biology.

    Dr. Sanjiv Risal, Research Specialist at the unit, working with reproductive medicine.
    Dr. Shivam Chandel, Postdoc. Developing insulin producing stem cell derived islets.
    Dr. Jing Lyu, Postdoc performing epigenetic studies or early human embryos.

    Dr. Kristina Kiisholts, Postdoc studying Human Endometrium and Embryo interaction

    Dr. Helena Isla, Postdoc Embryonic stem cell-based treatment of retinal degenerative disease

    Sara Saietz, PhD student. Embryonic stem cell-based treatment of retinal degenerative disease
    Frederik Bär, PhD student. Individualized iPSC-based treatment of blindness

    Celia Mesias Casares, PhD student. Building the early human embryo

    Eda Erbil, PhD student. Developing insulin producing stem cell derived islets.

    *Past Lab members*
    Dr. Sophie Petroploulos, PI at KI and University of Montreal
    Dr. Sebastian Hildebrand, Postdoc. Now working at Tecan
    Dr. Liselotte Antonsson, Now working at Stockholm University
    Dr. Sarita Panula, Postdoc. Now working at Procella Therapeutics.
    Dr. Sandra Petrus-Reurer, PhD and Postdoc, now working at Cambridge University.
    Dr. Sara Padrell Sánchez, PhD student now Director of Business Development at Akron Biotech
    Dr. John Paul Schell. PhD and then Postdoc in Professor Ken Chiens laboratory, KI
    Dr. Paschalis Efstathopoulos, Industrial Postdoc now working as Research scientist at Novo Nordisk
    Dr. Leni Wagner, PhD and Postdoc.
    Dr. Alvaro Plaza Reyes, PhD and Postdoc. Currently working at CABIMER, Spain
    Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Postdoc. Currently working as Senior Scientist at Strand Life Sciences, Begaluru
    Dr. Nicholas Ortega-Linard, Postdoc. Currently working as Business Development Manager at Olink, Sweden
    Dr. Heather Main, ATMP Sweden
    Dr Jere Weltner, Postdoc. Currently at University of Helsinki
    Dr. Breniere-Letuffe, Postdoc

    Dr. Laura Baque Vidal, Currently at Vecura, Karolinska University hospital

    Dr. Mathilde Bergamelli, Postdoc
    Hazel Reilly, Currently PhD student at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
    Nerges Winblad, PhD student. Currently working at Karolinska University Hospital
    Mona Hedenskog, Previous lab manager, currently enjoying life.
    Nefeli Eirini Beri, Previous MSc student, Regulatory Affairs Postgraduate at Novartis
    Hugo Metzger, Previous Erasmus student
    Nashwan Jalal Markus, now working at the productive Unit Karolinska Hospital
    Haojiang Lu
    Philipp Schenk
    Angelos Gkikas
    Nariman Gharari

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028
    Motherhood holds a profound significance for many women, yet one in six couples encounters infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF), the most common treatment, yields modest pregnancy rate. Moreover, 15% of all pregnancies are spontaneously miscarried. Embryo implantation and pregnancy progression rely on communication between genetically normal, euploid embryo and uterus, complemented by favorable microbiota. Even following the transfer of the tested euploid embryo, a maximum implantation rate of 50% is achieved, causing the need for multiple transfers. The fact that failed implantation and pregnancy loss are common, underscores the importance of hostile endometrial environment, impaired embryo-maternal communication, and dysbiotic uterine microbiota in poor fertility. PODIUM project adopts a holistic approach to unravel the interplay between endometrial, embryonic, and host microbiota factors underlying the etiology of implantation failure and pregnancy loss. We adopt systems biology approach, based on our expertise in conducting integrated multiomic and microbiota profiling of endometrium. This approach will be augmented by using our in vitro implantation models, including embryo-like blastoids and endometrial organoids, to delve into implantation mechanisms. Thus, PODIUM contributes to the clinical field, which is often neglected, and paves the way for enhanced diagnostic abilities and the development of personalized treatments for female poor reproductive outcome.
  • Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine (MWLC)
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 December 2023 - 30 November 2028
    Understanding fundamental principles that regulate the early human embryo has clinical value for reproductive technologies, congenital disease, and regenerative medicine. My lab and others have begun to uncover the molecular mechanisms controlling the first week of development but following implantation, we have very poor understanding beyond historic histological characterisations. We have learned a lot from the mouse, but human post-implantation development is very distinct from mouse. One example, following implantation a primate specific cell type fills the blastocoel cavity prior to gastrulation, the extra embryonic mesenchyme. This cell type is completely lacking in the mouse.New opportunities to study post-implantation development has emerged through extended blastocyst cultures and stem cell-based embryo models. In this project we will build a comprehensive spatial single cell transcriptional atlas of implantation, describing the cell types and the genes that control them. This resource will be critical to validate blastoids and post-implantation embryo models. Functionally we will use the transcriptional information and validated embryo models, together with genome editing to dissect regulators of the implantation event and lineage specification of the extra embryonic mesenchyme and amnion. Lastly, we will extend our recent studies of the epigenetic control through Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, histone deacetylation and X-chromosome inactivation in female embryos.
  • Building the early human embryo
    Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 1 January 2027
  • Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
    1 January 2015 - 1 January 2020
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2016
  • Mammalian preimplantation development and pluripotency –Man is not a mouse
    Ragnar Söderberg Foundation
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2018
  • Uncovering early mammalian development and pluripotency
    Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
    1 September 2013 - 31 August 2016
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2015
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 July 2012 - 30 June 2013
  • Studies on how pluripotent stem cells are regulated in the early embryo
    Swedish Research Council
    1 July 2009 - 30 June 2011

Employments

  • Professor, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-
  • Principal Researcher, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025

Degrees and Education

  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 2008

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