In July 2023, the Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics established the new section "Biofabrication for Drug Testing", for which Dominik Egger has been appointed as a professor at Leibniz University. After completing his studies in Life Sciences at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Mr Egger conducted research as part of his doctorate at the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna in Austria. He completed his doctorate there in 2017 on the topic of " Concepts for the implementation of physiologic conditions for the cultivation of human mesenchymal stem cells". During his postdoctoral phase, he developed methods for the non-invasive monitoring of 3D cell culture processes as well as isolation and expansion processes for mesenchymal stem cells in 3D cell culture and bioreactor systems. This was followed by teaching activities at the University of Zaragoza, Spain, and his nomination as Deputy Head of Institute at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
Innovative 3D cell culture models ...
With his move from Vienna to Hanover, Professor Egger is now strengthening the Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics in research and teaching. The new section Biofabrication for Drug Testing is concerned with the development of innovative cell culture technologies for the production of relevant cell culture models for drug testing. To this end, the cells are to be cultivated in an environment that is as natural and body-like as possible at each point in the culture – from isolation and multiplication to the production of stem cells and stem cell products for final differentiation or subsequent drug testing. To ensure physiological conditions during culture, 3D cell culture technologies and bioreactor systems are used, which are operated in a hypoxic (oxygen-reduced) environment. Under such physiological culture conditions, cells behave more like in the human body, making research results more meaningful and clinically relevant.
... for developing and testing of new active substances
The aim of the Biofabrication section is to develop human physiological cell culture models that not only reflect therapeutically relevant events as closely as possible, but can also be used in the development and testing of new active substances. This also includes the adaptation of cell culture models to high-throughput technologies. To achieve this, the department's research is conducted at the interface between cell biology, biomedicine, chemistry and materials science.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences congratulates Mr Egger on his professorship and wishes him every success and pleasure in his research and teaching.
