Research & Development
Research & Development at Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory
We at Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory envision to be a world-renowned research and development facility focused on stem cell biology & regenerative medicine. Our mission is to conduct research on new stem cell-based therapies for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
We are committed to conducting high-quality research that will make a real difference in the lives of patients.
Research Collaboration with Marga and Walter-Boll Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Marga and Walter-Boll Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering, University Hospital of Cologne – Germany.
For the first time in the UAE, Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory will be conducting research studies on cardiovascular differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells using iPSC technology, which could be the hope of the future for many patients with myocardial infraction.
We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Marga and Walter-Boll Laboratory for Cardiac Tissue Engineering, University Hospital of Cologne – Germany.
For the first time in the UAE, Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory will be conducting research studies on cardiovascular differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells using iPSC technology, which could be the hope of the future for many patients with myocardial infraction.
Culturing of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a new type of pluripotent cells that can be obtained by reprogramming differentiated cells.The collaboration between the Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory and the Marga-and-Walter-Boll Laboratory in Germany marks an important step forward in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Through knowledge transfer and training, the Hortman team successfully cultured high quality of viable iPSC cells (96-99%) in our GMP laboratory equipped with an ISO 5 clean rooms.
Achieving such high-quality iPSC cultures with excellent viability is a testament to the skill and dedication of the researchers and technologists at the Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory, as well as the guidance and training provided by their collaborators at the Marga-and-Walter-Boll Laboratory.
The iPSC technology has immense potential in advancing regenerative medicine, Personalized Medicine, Drug Screening, and disease modeling.
Brightfield images of monolayer cultures of hiPSCs at passage 35 at 10X magnification. The image here shows the confluency of iPSC cells growing in the culture plate. Scale bars: 100 μm.
Flow cytometry analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cells at passage 35. The flowcytometry graph shows the percentage of iPSCs (as shown by iPSC maker-SSEA4)
Differentiation of iPSCs into Cardiomyocytes
- After acquiring iPSC technology, the next pivotal phase for the Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory involved differentiating these pluripotent cells into a specialized cell type suitable for diverse applications such as tissue-specific differentiation and drug screening, etc. Leveraging the expertise of our collaborators at the Marga-and-Walter-Boll Laboratory, renowned for their work in cardiomyocyte research, proved invaluable.
- Embarking on iPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes presented its share of challenges for the Hortman team, particularly in achieving a substantial yield of cardiomyocytes. However, through meticulous experimentation and iterative refinements, the team triumphed in successfully differentiating iPSCs into cardiomyocytes. Notably, the quality of the cardiomyocytes obtained surpassed expectations, with yields ranging from 95% – 99%.
- This accomplishment speaks volumes about the proficiency and dedication of the technical team at the Hortman Stem Cell Laboratory, underscoring their adeptness in iPSC technology and cell culture techniques. With such high-quality cardiomyocytes now at their disposal, the laboratory is poised to explore a myriad of applications in cardiovascular research and beyond.
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Cardiac differentiation of hiPSCs in a monolayer culture at 10X. The image here shows the differentiation of iPSCs into the cardiomyocytes in the culture plate
Flow cytometry analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell Passage: 35, derived cardiomyocytes at passage 36. The flowcytometry graph shows the percentage of Cardiomyocytes (as shown by Cardiac maker-TNNT2)