Dr. Ian M. Rogers

Dr. Rogers’ lab is focused on developing three dimensional tissue culture systems to improve stem cell studies. By combining stem cells with decellularized organs, his aim is to advance studies on stem cell differentiation, cell-cell signaling and understanding the complex three-dimensional organization of cells into functional organs and tissues.

His research focuses on the following areas:

Cell therapies

Blood cells and mesenchymal cells from umbilical cord blood or tissue are a suitable source of cells for regenerative medicine to treat peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and non-healing skin wounds. For the treatment of PVD and non-healing wounds the ability of transplanted blood and mesenchymal cells to induce tissue repair mechanisms in endogenous cells is being investigated. The lab has demonstrated that CD34+ blood cells or mesenchymal stromal cells from umbilical cord tissue or blood can be isolated, grown in vitro, during which they develop the ability to secrete factors that support cell survival, blood vessel growth and cell migration important for tissue repair.

Reproduction

The goal of this project is the development of a tissue culture system that will improve studies in the area of reproduction. In collaboration with Dr. Greenblatt, we have adapted our decellularized organ culture system to the ovary. Our goal is to develop in vitro methods for the maturation of prepubescent follicles to oocytes that can be successfully fertilized, from cryopreserved ovarian tissue from young patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. We are using rabbit ovaries to carry out the initial studies that include empirically determining the appropriate decellularization regimen and the best method to repopulate the acellular ovary with new cells in order to provide the proper milieu for oocyte development.

Aging

Aging in attributed to the limitation of the half-life of our cells coupled to the diminishing ability of the tissue niche to support tissue repair over time. The former is a limitation inherited in our mature somatic cells while the latter is a limitation of our stem/progenitor cells and their niche. Since aging is the eventual exhaustion of our body’s ability to regenerate we can offset the breakdown of our tissues by replenishing the tissue stem cells, the stem cell niche, the engraftment of mature somatic cells or all three. Although not all diseases are due to aging, the need for stem cell or mature cell replacement is required for both. The Rogers lab, by utilizing different stem cells, differentiation protocols and disease models has demonstrated that stem cells or mature cells can be used separately or in combination to regenerate tissue in diseased and aged mice. Because of the similarities in embryo development, tissue repair and aging, appropriate disease or tissue damage models can be used to test therapies aimed and reducing the effects of aging on our organs.

Kidney Disease

The Rogers’ lab is also focused on studying diabetic nephropathy. This project allows for investigating the role of stem cells and their niche. By using decellularized kidney from healthy and diabetic mice (or humans) coupled with kidney progenitor and mature cells from healthy and diabetic sources, we can determine if diabetes is affecting the niche or the progenitor cells.

Somatic Cell Reprogramming

Harnessing the reprogramming mechanism to generate safe, clinically relevant stem cells for therapy is an important goal. As part of an international research consortium lead by Dr. Andras Nagy a thorough examination of the changes in the proteome, secretome, genome and transcriptome that occurs during reprogramming was carried out. This effort has resulted in a large public data-base that can be found at www.stemformatics.com. Building on this work my main aim is to continue to investigate whether reprogramming occurs in an orderly predictable manner and if there are stable intermediates that have developed the ability of proliferation and de-differentiation without completely losing their somatic cell properties. It is expected these stable intermediates are safer that fully reprogrammed cells as they do not form teratomas.