About
Recent presentations:
Georgiou, M.; Reis, J.; Wood, R.; Li, D.; Choi, D. and Wall,…
Articles by Melanie
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Can we help with your cell or gene therapy research programme?
Can we help with your cell or gene therapy research programme?
By Melanie Georgiou
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TCES Annual Meeting 2016 at UCL, London 4-6th July
TCES Annual Meeting 2016 at UCL, London 4-6th July
By Melanie Georgiou
Activity
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When we’re given a vaccine or take a medicine – our first thought isn’t the planet’s health – it's our own. But healthy people need a healthy planet.…
When we’re given a vaccine or take a medicine – our first thought isn’t the planet’s health – it's our own. But healthy people need a healthy planet.…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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Bittersweet conversation with my daughter last night! She asked if I am allowed to dance at work. Working at Deep Science Ventures I could answer…
Bittersweet conversation with my daughter last night! She asked if I am allowed to dance at work. Working at Deep Science Ventures I could answer…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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FUNDING NEWS: We are thrilled to announce our £90m ($114m) series A financing, one of the largest biotech series A in European biotech and the…
FUNDING NEWS: We are thrilled to announce our £90m ($114m) series A financing, one of the largest biotech series A in European biotech and the…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
Experience
Education
Publications
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Engineered neural tissue with aligned, differentiated adipose-derived stem cells promotes peripheral nerve regeneration across a critical sized defect in rat sciatic nerve
Biomaterials
Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from rats and differentiated to a Schwann cell-like phenotype in vitro. The differentiated cells (dADSCs) underwent self-alignment in a tethered type-1 collagen gel, followed by stabilisation to generate engineered neural tissue (EngNT-dADSC). The pro-regenerative phenotype of dADSCs was enhanced by this process, and the columns of aligned dADSCs in the aligned collagen matrix supported and guided neurite extension in vitro. EngNT-dADSC sheets were…
Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from rats and differentiated to a Schwann cell-like phenotype in vitro. The differentiated cells (dADSCs) underwent self-alignment in a tethered type-1 collagen gel, followed by stabilisation to generate engineered neural tissue (EngNT-dADSC). The pro-regenerative phenotype of dADSCs was enhanced by this process, and the columns of aligned dADSCs in the aligned collagen matrix supported and guided neurite extension in vitro. EngNT-dADSC sheets were rolled to form peripheral nerve repair constructs that were implanted within NeuraWrap conduits to bridge a 15 mm gap in rat sciatic nerve. After 8 weeks regeneration was assessed using immunofluorescence imaging and transmission electron microscopy and compared to empty conduit and nerve graft controls. The proportion of axons detected in the distal stump was 3.5 fold greater in constructs containing EngNT-dADSC than empty tube controls. Our novel combination of technologies that can organise autologous therapeutic cells within an artificial tissue construct provides a promising new cellular biomaterial for peripheral nerve repair.
Other authorsSee publication -
Human dental pulp stem cells can differentiate into Schwann cells and promote and guide neurite outgrowth in an aligned tissue-engineered collagen construct in vitro.
The FASEB journal
In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) toward Schwann cells, together with their functional capacity with regard to myelination and support of neurite outgrowth in vitro. Successful Schwann cell differentiation was confirmed at the morphological and ultrastructural level by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, compared to undifferentiated hDPSCs, immunocytochemistry and ELISA tests revealed increased glial marker…
In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) toward Schwann cells, together with their functional capacity with regard to myelination and support of neurite outgrowth in vitro. Successful Schwann cell differentiation was confirmed at the morphological and ultrastructural level by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, compared to undifferentiated hDPSCs, immunocytochemistry and ELISA tests revealed increased glial marker expression and neurotrophic factor secretion of differentiated hDPSCs (d-hDPSCs), which promoted survival and neurite outgrowth in 2-dimensional dorsal root ganglia cultures. In addition, neurites were myelinated by d-hDPSCs in a 3-dimensional collagen type I hydrogel neural tissue construct. This engineered construct contained aligned columns of d-hDPSCs that supported and guided neurite outgrowth. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence that hDPSCs are able to undergo Schwann cell differentiation and support neural outgrowth in vitro, proposing them to be good candidates for cell-based therapies as treatment for peripheral nerve injury.-Martens, W., Sanen, K., Georgiou, M., Struys, T., Bronckaers, A., Ameloot, M., Phillips, J., Lambrichts, I. Human dental pulp stem cells can differentiate into Schwann cells and promote and guide neurite outgrowth in an aligned tissue-engineered collagen construct in vitro.
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Engineered neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair
Biomaterials
A new combination of tissue engineering techniques provides a simple and effective method for building aligned cellular biomaterials. Self-alignment of Schwann cells within a tethered type-1 collagen matrix, followed by removal of interstitial fluid produces a stable tissue-like biomaterial that recreates the aligned cellular and extracellular matrix architecture associated with nerve grafts. Sheets of this engineered neural tissue supported and directed neuronal growth in a co-culture model…
A new combination of tissue engineering techniques provides a simple and effective method for building aligned cellular biomaterials. Self-alignment of Schwann cells within a tethered type-1 collagen matrix, followed by removal of interstitial fluid produces a stable tissue-like biomaterial that recreates the aligned cellular and extracellular matrix architecture associated with nerve grafts. Sheets of this engineered neural tissue supported and directed neuronal growth in a co-culture model, and initial in vivo tests showed that a device containing rods of rolled-up sheets could support neuronal growth during rat sciatic nerve repair (5 mm gap). Further testing of this device for repair of a critical-sized 15 mm gap showed that, at 8 weeks, engineered neural tissue had supported robust neuronal regeneration across the gap. This is, therefore, a useful new approach for generating anisotropic engineered tissues, and it can be used with Schwann cells to fabricate artificial neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair.
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A 3D in vitro model reveals differences in the astrocyte response elicited by potential stem cell therapies for CNS injury
Regenerative Medicine
Aim: This study aimed to develop a 3D culture model to test the extent to which transplanted stem cells modulate astrocyte reactivity, where exacerbated glial cell activation could be detrimental to CNS repair success.
Materials & methods: The reactivity of rat astrocytes to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells was assessed after 5 days. Schwann cells were used as a positive control.
Results: NCSCs and…Aim: This study aimed to develop a 3D culture model to test the extent to which transplanted stem cells modulate astrocyte reactivity, where exacerbated glial cell activation could be detrimental to CNS repair success.
Materials & methods: The reactivity of rat astrocytes to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells was assessed after 5 days. Schwann cells were used as a positive control.
Results: NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose derived stem cells did not increase astrocyte reactivity. Highly reactive responses to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells were equivalent.
Conclusion: This approach can screen therapeutic cells prior to in vivo testing, allowing cells likely to trigger a substantial astrocyte response to be identified at an early stage. NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells may be useful in treating CNS damage without increasing astrogliosis.Other authorsSee publication
Patents
Honors & Awards
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Best Poster Presentation
BioProcess UK
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Early Career Speaker Prize for the best oral presentation
Bioprocess Research Industry Club (BRIC)
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Early Career Speaker Prize for the best oral presentation
Bioprocess Research Industry Club
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First prize for the Oral Award Session
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society - World Congress 2012
Melanie Georgiou won first prize for her presentation at the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World Congress in Vienna. Melanie's abstract was shortlisted for the prestigious Oral Presentation Award Session, during which the five finalists presented their work to an expert panel, who then led a question and answer session in front of a large audience. Melanie was awarded first prize for discussing interim findings from her work using stem cells from…
Melanie Georgiou won first prize for her presentation at the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World Congress in Vienna. Melanie's abstract was shortlisted for the prestigious Oral Presentation Award Session, during which the five finalists presented their work to an expert panel, who then led a question and answer session in front of a large audience. Melanie was awarded first prize for discussing interim findings from her work using stem cells from adipose tissue as part of the project to develop tissue engineered implantable devices for surgical repair of the peripheral nervous system. The TERMIS World Congress involved more than 2500 delegates from 62 nations. Our group presented three posters in addition to Melanie's talk, describing the latest findings from our ongoing projects. Abstracts are available via Open Research Online
Languages
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Greek
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More activity by Melanie
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Starting the week on a high-note. A great milestone for SmartCella and to the accelerated growth of ATMP development in the…
Starting the week on a high-note. A great milestone for SmartCella and to the accelerated growth of ATMP development in the…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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🚨🚨 MYRICX MEGAROUND! Congratulations to Robin Carr and team for raising a £90m ($114m) Series A to progress their pipeline of NMTi-based ADCs to…
🚨🚨 MYRICX MEGAROUND! Congratulations to Robin Carr and team for raising a £90m ($114m) Series A to progress their pipeline of NMTi-based ADCs to…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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We had a great time at the recent TechTalk, organised in collaboration with Leiden Bio Science Park, which focused on the latest advancements in Cell…
We had a great time at the recent TechTalk, organised in collaboration with Leiden Bio Science Park, which focused on the latest advancements in Cell…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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Thrilled to announce my new role as Head of Business Development at DeepLife! DeepLife is a young and innovative company revolutionizing the drug…
Thrilled to announce my new role as Head of Business Development at DeepLife! DeepLife is a young and innovative company revolutionizing the drug…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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Excellent effort by the #CureVac deal team and great chance to refocus on what #CureVac does best – pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with…
Excellent effort by the #CureVac deal team and great chance to refocus on what #CureVac does best – pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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Those who know Luca Alberici, know he does not like to sugarcoat problems. In this podcast he openly explains why the #CGT sector is in such a messy…
Those who know Luca Alberici, know he does not like to sugarcoat problems. In this podcast he openly explains why the #CGT sector is in such a messy…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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I’m taking on a new challenge as RLT Commercial Head a.i. at Novartis Italia. Looking forward to joining an awe-inspiring team working tirelessly to…
I’m taking on a new challenge as RLT Commercial Head a.i. at Novartis Italia. Looking forward to joining an awe-inspiring team working tirelessly to…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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LITTA™ is proud to promote diversity in our supply chain. A big shoutout to all our #female #partners who contribute to our success. In an industry…
LITTA™ is proud to promote diversity in our supply chain. A big shoutout to all our #female #partners who contribute to our success. In an industry…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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Fantastic to have our collaborators from #Cellistic in London to discuss our ongoing collaboration to develop an iPSC Treg platform. Thanks to Stefan…
Fantastic to have our collaborators from #Cellistic in London to discuss our ongoing collaboration to develop an iPSC Treg platform. Thanks to Stefan…
Liked by Melanie Georgiou
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