Daniel Besser

Experience

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  Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

  Oct 1990 - Jan 1996

  PhD Student

  Execution of research projects

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  Rockefeller University

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2004

  Postdoc

  Koordination and execution of research projects

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  Max Delbrück Center

  Sept 2004 - Mar 2014

  Signaling Mechanisms in Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic stem cells (ESC) are pluripotent cells, which can proliferate indefinitely and participate in the formation of most cell types. Studies on human ESCs (hESC) provide an insight into human embryogenesis and allow the development of tools for pharmacology and regenerative medicine. The focus of our studies is the maintenance of the pluripotent state in murine ESCs (mESCs) and hESCs. We found that the Activin/Nodal pathway is activated in pluripotent hESCs and blocked upon differentiation. Pluripotent cells require these signaling regulating a specific subset of target genes. In addition, the BMP pathway is in the off-state in pluripotent cells and activated upon differentiation. This pathway counteracts the effects of Activin signaling. Moreover, it has been shown that somatic cells for various sources can be reprogrammed by transfection of four defined transcription factors, i.e. Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, to a pluripotent state. These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are very exciting new cell populations for stem cell research. Show less

  • Coordinator "German Stem Cell Network"

    Jan 2012 - Mar 2014

  • Team Leader

    Sept 2004 - Dec 2011
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  German Stem Cell Network (GSCN)

  Apr 2014 - now

  Managing Director

  The German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) aims at creating synergies between all areas of basic and applied stem cell research and to provide an interface between science, education, politics and society as a whole.The central task of the GSCN is to pool the expertise in stem cell research in Germany and develop synergies between basic research, regenerative medicine and pharmacology. The initiative will promote innovative research activities on a national and international level. In addition, targeted information and events will be offered to encourage the public discourse on stem cell research. Show less

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  Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

  Jan 2021 - now

  Leiter Dialogplattform Stammzellforschung