Osnabrueck University (UOS)
Osnabrueck, Germany

Project description

Spiny mice (Acomys) regenerate their skin, including hair follicles, and composite tissues containing cartilage, muscles and nerves, in a scar-free manner. In this project, we will identify and characterize novel gene functions that occurred as part of genomic innovations in spiny mice. We will use spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing datasets in a comparative approach with spiny mice and their non-regenerating relatives, house mice (Mus) and gerbils (Meriones), to identify Acomys-specific gene expression patterns activated upon injury. The ultimate aim of the project is to find ways to activate regenerative traits in normally scarring/fibrotic injury models, such as mouse and human skin.

Doctoral Candidate

Silin Chen

Hi, my name is Silin Chen, and I graduated in dermatology at the University of Jiangsu, in September 2023, with a thesis on the the direct reprogramming and skin melanocyte regeneration in situ in vivo in the lab of Prof. Li in China. I will be joining the team of Prof. Kerstin Bartscherer at the Faculty for Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrueck University in Germany. Here, I will be working on project 7 where I aim to Identify and characterize cellular cues that promote scar-free regeneration in spiny mice. I decided to join the REGENERATE network because I am very interested in investigating skin function and diseases, especially on aging and regeneration. As for my interests outside of science, I have a keen interest in sports and handicraft, and I love jogging in the morning and making handicrafts during leisure time.

Silin Chen

Principal Investigator

Kerstin Bartscherer, PhD

Professor of Animal Physiology at the Faculty for Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrueck University (https://www.biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/biology.html), Germany

Previous positions at the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research (https://www.hubrecht.eu/), Utrecht, The Netherlands, and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine (https://www.mpi-muenster.mpg.de/2377/en), Muenster, Germany.

Email: kerstin.bartscherer(at)uni-osnabrueck.de

Prof. Kerstin Bartscherer

Research in the Bartscherer lab

Research in the Bartscherer lab is focused on skin regeneration and heart repair, using spiny mice (Acomys) as a new model organism. We also work with planarians to understand principles of stem cell-based regeneration.

Visit the group homepage: https://www.biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/research/research_groups/animal_physiology/prof_kerstin_bartscherer.html

Our group is also part of CellNanOs (https://www.cellnanos.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/home.html) and has access to its fantastic state-of-the Art imaging facilities (https://www.ibios.uni-osnabrueck.de/)