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Basic mechanisms
in stem cell biology

Rieger Lab
Research


GOETHE UNIVERSITY

GOETHE UNIVERSITY

Basic mechanisms
in stem cell biology


Research Topics

Clinical Diagnostics -
Immune Phenotyping

Single Cell Technologies

Research Integration

Rieger lab: Basic mechanisms

stem cell biology

Research Focus

Stem cells raise enormous hope and expectations for regenerative medicine and targeted therapy. We study the (patho)physiology of blood and colon stem cells during clonal evolution from normal to malignant. Especially early transformative events and single mutations on their transition into premalignancy are in the center of interest.

We focus our research on basic mechanisms that control normal and disturbed stem cell fate decisions (self-renewal vs. differentiation, lineage choice, quiescence vs. proliferation). These fate decisions need to be strictly balanced for normal tissue regeneration and for emergency situations, and are dysregulated in diseases (e.g. cancer). Clonal architecture, dominance and competition of stem cells in health and disease are studied. The influence of genomic alterations in stem cells influencing differentiation and regeneration, and leading to hematologic diseases are investigated. Eary molecular drivers of clonal dominance and their consequences on interorgan communication and disease progression must be understood for early prevention and treatment of hematologic and non-hematologic diseases.

We utilize and develop cutting-edge single cell technologies and bioinformatic analyses and apply them to stem cell systems from mice and humans. We unravel molecular and functional clues how these decisions are integrated in normal stem cell biology and how mutated stem cells can be targeted for innovative disease treatment.

NEWS

May 2024
Adrien positively evaluated by the MSNZ committee – congrats!

Jan 2024
Marius received Postdoc Start-up grant from the Excellence Cluster CPI – well done!

Dec 2023
Tessa received a Travel Grant to ASH from GSCN - congrats!

Oct 2023
New DFG Research Unit FOR5643 “HERZBLUT” under Michael´s leadership funded

link

Aug 2023
Alec won the Greg Johnson Award at ISEH - congrats!!


July 2023
Ika defended her thesis
- Magna cum laude! Well done, Dr. Yu


July 2023
Alec nomminated for ISEH New Investigator Award!

→ link

July 2023
Patrizias clinical follow-up study published - well done!

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Oct 2022
Overview article on CHIP by Michael in "Der Internist"

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July 2022
Michael contributed to a transdisciplinary book
on Complexity in Science, Culture and Society

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July 2022
Mick Milsom´s HSC story is out! Cell Stem Cell

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June 2022
Our CHIP team scored again - CHIP and COPD

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March 2022
Michael runs for Directorship at ISEH - go to vote now!

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June 2021
Study published: Transglutaminase 2 promotes
colon cancer cell survival - congrats to Patrizia and Ilaria

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June 2021
Esther defended her thesis - Well done Dr. med.!

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May 2021
Michael published Editorial on CHIP

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March 2021
New study published on clonal hematopoiesis
- big congrats to Katharina

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Jan 2021
Lena successfully defended her thesis -
congrats Dr. Dorsheimer


Nov 2020
Alec Gessner joint the team as PhD student
- welcome Alec!


July 2020
New positions available in the lab!

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June 2020
Fighting COVID19 - support by Goethe Corona Fonds

link

April 2020
Joining the BD MultiOmics Alliance

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March 2020
New PhD Student positions available!

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Jan 2020
New Review on Clonal Hematopoiesis (CHIP) published

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Dec 2019
Frankfurt University highlights
our latest research

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Nov 2019
Lena published bone marrow alterations in CHIP carriers - congrats!

→ link

Oct 2019
Editorial on NATURE paper about stem cell
expansion by Michael

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Oct 2019
Ilaria successfully defended her thesis
- congrats Dr. Lunger


Oct 2019
Rene received MD stipent from the
Jackstädt-Stiftung at the DGHO - congrats!


Sept 2019
Our CHIP Team scored again - EHJ publication!

→ link

May 2019
Christina´s paper about CHIP after autoSCT
published in Cell Reports - congrats!

→ link

Jan 2019
New lab positions available (PhD, Postdoc, TA)


Dec 2018
Clonal hematopoiesis contribute to ischemic
heart failure - published in JAMA Cardiology

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Dec 2018
New TA position available


Dec 2018
New Postdoc position available


Nov 2018
Public Report about Rieger Lab

→ link

Sept 2018
Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary-Institute funded!

→ link

Aug 2018
Michael invited speaker at ISEH 2018 in Los Angeles


June 2018
New PostDoc position available


Feb 2018
MiRNA-193b in AML - great story published in JCO

→ link

Dec 2017
Bartosch successfully defended his thesis
- congrats Dr. Wojcik


Dec 2017
Bartosch and Fabian published Perspective
Article in ONCOTARGET

→ link

Expert Review Clonal Hematopoiesis

Videomicroscopy-based Cell Tracking

Signaling at Single Cell Resolution - Phospho-Flow Cytometry

Genetic Screening Large Biobanks

Clinical Significance of New Targets

Modelling Leukemia in Mice

Accelerating Clonal Hematopoiesis by Autologous Transplantation

Time-Lapse Microscopy of Cell Fusion

Super-Resolution Microscopy (STORM)

Sensitve Capillary Western by the WES System

Single Cell Sequencing via BD Rhapsody

The Vicious Cycle of Clonal Hematopoiesis

    Research Topics

    • Intrinsic and extrinsic molecular control of hematopoietic stem cell fate decisions
    • Identification and characterization of leukemia-initiating (stem) cells in acute leukemia
    • Clonal dominance and competition of malignant stem cells
    • Somatic mutations in blood stem cells and their interorgan communication
      and pathophysiology in cardiopulmonary diseases
    • Transglutaminase 2 as innovative target and diagnostic tool in solid cancers

    Single Cell Technologies

    • MultiOmics single cell sequencing and bioinformatic data integration
    • Multiparameter FACS analyses and cell sorting
    • Lentiviral expression barcoding for combined clonal and molecular analysis at single cell resolution
    • Long-term video-microscopy-based single cell tracking
    • Organ reconstitution assays by transplantations (congenic and xenograft)
    • Orthotopic transplantation tumor and treatment models

    Clinical leukemia and lymphoma diagnostics

    Michael Rieger is the head of the Medical Department 2 Diagnostic Unit for Immune Phenotyping by flow cytometry. Modern multiparameter flow cytometers integrated into an approved workflow from sample acquisition to clinical evaluation yield state-of-the art clinical diagnostics for blood disorders, immune status and stem cell reconstitution.

    Approved multicolor assays for the diagnosis of primary disease, treatment response and minimal residual disease are established for leukemia and lymphoma patients. A team of technical assistants and clinicians is required to process hundreds of samples in a daily routine.

    Research Integration

    The interdisciplinary laboratory works at the interphase of stem cell research, hematology and cardiopulmonary research. Michael Rieger is faculty member of the Medical Department, the Frankfurt Cancer Institute, and the Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary-Institute. The laboratory is also part of the German Health Center “German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)” which is coordinated by the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.
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