Manipal > Institutions > Regenerative Medicine > MIRM Bangalore > Research > Overview


Overview 


  1. Adult Mesenchymal Stem cells:
    MSCs have generated a lot of excitement because they have been shown to trans -differentiate into different lineage cells in vitro apart from the major specialized cells of the tissue. However, it is not very clear whether stem cells derived from different tissue originate from a common source and thus share similar properties or they have differences pertaining to differences in the tissue microenvironments. The main focus is to understand and compare the inherent properties of Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from different tissues with respect to their self-renewal, trans-differentiation potential and immune-properties. The ongoing projects are: 
    • Immunobiology of Mesenchymal stem cells
    • Understanding differences in self renewal between normal stem cells and stem cells isolated from tumors
    • Isolation of MSCs from dental pulp stem cells and its differentiation into dopaminergic neurons and islets cells.
  2. Cancer Stem Cells:
    Cancer stem cells (CSCs) from solid tumors and is involved in identification and isolation of CSCs and characterizing its molecular properties. We are searching for clues by profiling the differential expression of oncoproteins, drug transporter proteins and stem cell markers and analyzing altered patterns of cell cycling. These studies will not only serve in using cancer stem cells as a tool to study the basic biology of CSCs but will also aid in targeted therapy to improve clinical outcome.
  3. Cardiovascular Research Group:
    It focuses on the differentiation of stem cells of embryonic and mesenchymal origin into cardiomyocytes and to characterize the resulting cardiomyocytes. We are investigating the various signaling pathways driving the embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells to cardiomyocyte lineage. Cardiomyocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem cells have been shown to survive, integrate, and rescue cardiac contractibility in infarcted rodents. Thus, the derivation of cardiomyocytes on a large scale from hESCs would allow for testing the utility of cells in animal models and eventually in humans.
  4. Neuroregeneration Research Group
    Our objective will be to identify means of enhancing effective and appropriate neural regeneration and understand the mechanisms involved. These will include looking at both endogenous regulators as well as the implant of exogenous stem cells. The multi-pronged approach will include looking into both embryonic and adult stem cell systems.
    The initial focus is on:
    • Identifying and studying mechanisms of neuritogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow and Wharton’s Jelly.
    • Trans-differentiation potential of human bone marrow and Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells to neuronal and glial lineage.
    • To investigate the mechanism by which embryonic stem cells differentiate into distinct neuronal and glial subtypes.