Prof. Moustapha Kassem, University of Southern Denmark, Odense

Bone marrow skeletal (mesenchymal) stem cells (MSC) are increasing used in regenerative medicine to enhance tissue regeneration. However, cell transplantation faces major obstacle related to cell survival and integration into injured tissues. One of the aims of my research program is to target MSC in vivo in order to enhance their proliferation and differentiation into bone forming osteoblastic cells for bone tissue regeneration. In my talk, I will present some recent data from my lab where we aimed at identifying novel molecules that function as molecular regulators for osteoblast differentiation and in vivo bone formation. We have studies these molecules in vitro and in vivo and their clinical relevance in preclinical animal models.

Biography:

Professor Moustapha Kassem is a Professor of Molecular Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Professor and Chief Physician, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Odense and  Adjunct professor of Stem Cell Biology, Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Dr Kassem main research focus is studying mechanisms of impaired bone formation and bone fragility during aging and in osteoporosis as well as molecular mechanisms of osteoblast (bone forming cells) differentiation of human skeletal (mesenchymal) stem cells (MSC); studying the phenomenon of biological aging of MSC  with respect to lineage fate determination and how the cellular senescent phenotype can be overcome by genetic and non-genetic approaches. Dr Kassem is studying the possible clinical use of MSC in tissue regeneration in a variety of diseases including fracture healing.

IPHYS contact person: Michaela Tencerová, michaela.tencerova@fgu.cas.cz