Grant to Eduardo Villablanca for studies of stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration in the intestine

Associate Professor Eduardo Villablanca, Group Leader at CMM, has received a Junior Research Grant from StratRegen which will fund his work on the identification of novel cellular and molecular mechanisms promoting intestinal stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration following injury.

Eduardo’s team study intestinal bowel diseases (IBD) and in particular, this StratRegen-granted project will focus on characterizing novel mechanisms to promote regeneration of the epithelial barrier which becomes disintegrated in the patients’ intestines. Modulation of the intestinal stem cell (ISC) function is central in this process and Eduardo’s team is therefore searching for novel genetic and cellular therapeutic targets that promote ISC-mediated regeneration of the intestinal mucosa.

The Swedish government is funding research in certain selected areas, called Strategic Research Areas (SFO). One of the fields funded at KI is stem cells and regenerative medicine (StratRegen) and this year seven Junior researchers will receive this support, one of which is Eduardo Villablanca. Congratulations!