Prof. Dr. Michael H. Sieweke

Profile

Academic positionFull Professor
Research fieldsImmunology,Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
Keywordsstem cells, cell fate decisions, macrophages, cellular self renewal, regeneration

Current contact address

CountryGermany
CityDresden
InstitutionTechnische Universität Dresden
InstituteCenter for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)

Host during sponsorship

Prof. Dr. Elly TanakaTechnische Universität Dresden, Dresden
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Müller-SteinhagenTechnische Universität Dresden, Dresden
Prof. Dr. Ezio BonifacioTechnische Universität Dresden, Dresden
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Müller-SteinhagenDresden International University GmbH, Dresden
Prof. Dr. Ursula M. StaudingerTechnische Universität Dresden, Dresden
Prof. Dr. Elly TanakaResearch Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Wien
Prof. Dr. Ezio BonifacioBiotechnologisches Zentrum (Biotec), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden
Start of initial sponsorship01/04/2018

Programme(s)

2017Alexander von Humboldt Professorship

Nominator's project description

Our bodies are continually changing. In many organs – like the intestines, the skin or the blood – stem cells constantly create new cells to replace those that are lost. This is the way the tissue is preserved or regenerates after injury. Sieweke’s special field are the mechanisms by which cells of the immune system are generated and the role of these cells in preserving tissue function and regeneration. He has produced internationally recognised work that could help to develop new approaches to cellular therapy. It was Sieweke’s team, for example, who discovered an emergency mechanism which quickly responds to severe infections by supplying the body with new immune cells that fight the invading pathogens. These mechanisms might one day be used in bone marrow transplants to help rebuild the immune system more quickly. Sieweke’s research also showed that some mature immune cells, called macrophages, can divide indefinitely and keep up their numbers by using similar mechanisms as stem cells. The hope is that his research will help to activate these mechanisms when regeneration fails or to supply large numbers of macrophages for cellular therapies. Sieweke’s role as Humboldt Professor at Technische Universität Dresden will be to position the university more firmly at the interface of immunology and tissue regeneration and to drive new medical applications in this area.