Research at MWLC
The Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine (MWLC) Seed Grant Programme has been established for KI researchers to fund and promote new research collaborations within stem cell differentiation, reprogramming and biomanufacturing toward translational application.
MWLC Seed Grant Projects
- Cancer predisposition and epigenetic deregulation of hematopoietic stem cells:
Vanessa Lundin (MedH), Andreas Lennartsson (BioNut)
- From disease to recovery: Investigating the effects of APOB-lipoproteins on hematopoietic stem cells in cardiometabolic disease:
Petter Woll (MedH) Stephen Malin (MedS)
- Greasing the way for regeneration from gut to brain: Revealing the role of lipids in stem cell differentiation and regeneration:
Erdinc Sezgin (KBH), Jonas Frisén (CMB), Pekka Katajisto (CMB)
- Investigating the link between placental function and congenital heart disease using organoids-on-a-chip system:
Qiaolin Deng (FyFa), Elif Eroglu (CMB)
- Non-invasive analysis of cellular compositions during manufacturing of stem cell products via extracellular vesicle profiling:
Fredrik Lanner (CLINTEC), Samir EL Andaloussi (LABMED)
- Progenitor cell location as determinant of fate and regeneration:
Eduardo J. Villablanca (MedS), Maria Genander (CMB)
- Single cell analyses of in vitro-specified dopamine progenitors and their developmental trajectory after engraftment into a striatal context:
Johan Ericson (CMB), Erik Sundström (NVS)
- Bioprinting of vascularized brown adipose tissue for the treatment of metabolic disease:
Volker M. Lauschke (FyFa), Yihai Cao (MTC)
- Partial reprogramming for hematopoietic system rejuvenation: Impact on systemic hallmarks of aging and health span:
Jette Lengefeld (MedH), Federico Pietrocola (CMB)
- Unlocking long-term impacts of radiotherapy on epidermal stem cells of cancer survivors:
Ning Xu Landén (MedS), Arne Lindqvist (CMB)
- Mapping dual organogenesis at single cell resolution:
Francois Lallemend (Neuro), Emma R. Andersson (CMB)
- Roles of focal and reticular adhesions in the maintenance of the pluripotent stem cell state:
Staffan Strömblad (MedH), Ana Teixeira (FyFa)
- Systematic exploration of organismal cell-to-cell communication:
Christian Göritz (CMB), Simon Elsässer (MBB)
Research Groups and Activities 2016-2023
MWLC consisted of two nodes, one in Hong Kong and one in Stockholm with ten research groups. By combining biology and technology, our aim is to unravel biology and develop leading-edge technologies for advancing reparative medicine with focuses on the nervous system and skin.
Photo: Ulf SirbornGonçalo Castelo-Branco
Photo: NilSijie Chen
Photo: Markus Marcetic © Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse/Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien.Simon Elsässer
Photo: Ulf SirbornChristian Göritz
Photo: Saida HadjabFrancois Lallemend
Photo: MedSNing Xu Landén
Photo: Ulf SirbornFredrik Lanner
Photo: Patrick ChanLinxian Li
Photo: Molly YangDongan Wang
Photo: Patrick ChanZongli Zheng
Photo: Molly YangBioinformatics Platform
The Bioinformatics Platform was a network of bioinformaticians with expertise in single-cell genomics, epigenomics and other next generation sequencing-based methodologies. The specialists worked with researchers of both MWLC nodes and collaborators at Hong Kong universities on projects requiring bioinformatic analysis.
Photo: Patrick ChanCollaboration with local universities
Eight outstanding scientists from four universities were appointed as MWLC Associate Members in autumn 2019, who are provided funding support to conduct collaborative projects with MWLC researchers, and / or develop novel research platforms or technologies that promote research in MWLC focus areas.
Collaboration with CNRM
Photo: GettyImagesKI and CUHK develop their collaboration
As from January 2022, the The Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine is established in the same facilities as MWLC in Hong Kong Science Park. This research collaboration between KI and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is tentatively planned for five years.