Nordic Life Science 1
HOT TOPIC // ORGAN & TISSUE REPAIR “Basically, ou
r bones are built from cartilage. Stem cells first form the cartilage, and then this cartilage is calcified and transformed into bone and bone marrow tissue. Now we are capable of reproducing this process in the lab.” T HE PROMISE of regenerative medicine is reshaping the future of tissue and organ regeneration and transplantation. Instead of relying solely on donor organs, scientists are developing ways to repair, replace, or even grow tissues and organs in the lab. Across the Nordics, this vision is supported by an ecosystem of public–private partnerships, academic excellence, and biotech innovation. Prominent actors include Cellink, the Gothenburgbased bioprinting pioneer whose bioinks and printers are used globally to fabricate vascularized tissues; and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which funds large-scale initiatives to translate stem cell biology into therapies for diabetes, neurodegeneration, and organ repair, to mention a few. Academic institutions are equally essential. At Karolinska Institutet, the StratRegen program unites research in stem cell biology, immunology, and cardiovascular repair. This specialized initiative is supported by the Swedish government through a program for strategic research areas. At the University of Copenhagen, stem cell programs focus on translating basic biology into clinical therapies – among other things, they collaborate with Novo Nordisk on reNEW Copenhagen, a center for stem cell medicine. Bone organ modeling and regeneration At Lund University’s Stem Cell Center, Associate Professor Dr. Paul Bourgine leads a group conducting research into bone organ modeling and regeneration, using bone as a paradigm to understand how organs form and regenerate. “The science is a combination of tissue engineering and stem cell biology. Our model organ is bone, and we are studying human bone in order to help its regeneration. At the same time, we are very interested in the bone marrow, which is responsible for blood production. So we have those two angles: finding solutions to rebuild bone, and developing models that help us understand hematopoiesis,” he explains. Bourgine’s group takes inspiration from endochondral ossification, the natural process by which most bones form during the embryonic stage. “Basically, our bones are built from cartilage. Stem cells first form the cartilage, and then Paul Bourgine, Associate Professor, Lund University this cartilage is calcified and transformed into bone and bone marrow tissue. Now we are capable of reproducing this process in the lab,” Bourgine says. His lab seeds bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) onto scaffolds, differentiating them into cartilage. Once implanted into animal models, these engineered tissues transform into living bone. The approach has been validated in animal models and is set to be tested in one more large-animal model. Discussions with regulatory entities suggests that once the last data is collected, the research from Bourgine’s group is close to its first clinical application in humans. Currently, the gold standard for treating damaged bone is synthetic implants, such as titanium plates, or bone autografts, whereby a piece of bone is taken from another part of the patient's body and put into the damaged area. The latter option has obvious restraints in terms of quantity, as Paul NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG | 83 PHOTO KENNET RUONA