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Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration

Image of a mouse pancreatic organoid, nuclei are labelled in green or purple dependent on cell proliferation status

The CHDSCR brings together researchers studying stem cells and development and ways to promote the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues. We aim to provide an environment where excellent scientists can make exciting discoveries for patient benefit.

Part of Medicine

About

Our Vision: Translating pioneering developmental and stem cell science for patient benefit.

The Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration (CHDSCR) was founded in 2004 as a cross-disciplinary research and translational programme within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton.

The Centre undertakes fundamental research into early development and stem cells together with applied translational research targeting the NHS and patient benefit.

The Centre has vibrant and thriving interdisciplinary research programmes that harness the translational strength of the University together with an MRes program in Stem Cells, outstanding clinical infrastructure and enterprise to deliver on this vision.

The Centre comprises a grouping of scientists and clinician scientists with a shared interest in Stem Cells, Development and Regenerative Medicine within excellent core space in the Institute of Developmental Sciences and units across Southampton General Hospital and Institute for Life Sciences

Our Mission: Our aim is to understand early human development and fundamental stem cell biology to inform and aid our translation and development of cell therapies for regenerative medicine.

Professor Jon Dawson - Director

Research highlights

An extreme close-up of the tip of an injection needle, with a drop of nanoclay sitting at the tip.

Using nanoclay gel to regrow, repair and replace damaged cells

Health and wellbeing
Southampton researchers have developed an innovative medical clay that can be used to apply regenerative medicine to patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

People, projects, publications and PhDs

People

Dr Jonathan West

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Time-Resolved Structural Biology The emergence of serial crystallography brings many exciting possibilities for structural biology but also brings the challenge of preparing many thousands of sub-micron crystals. To address this, we are working with Ivo Tews and Allen Orville to develop high throughput droplet microfluidic systems. Here volumetric confinement of the phase diagram defines growth limits for producing monodisperse protein crystals. Beyond this, the microfluidic processors can be interfaced with the beam line to enable dynamic structural biology.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jonathan

Email: J.J.West@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 3460

ORCID

Dr Jorn Lakowski

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Retinal Disease Modelling
  • Retinal Development
  • Drug Screening

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jorn

Email: J.Lakowski@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

Dr Kif Liakath-Ali MSc, MPhil, PhD.

Lecturer in Advanced Cell Biology

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Kif

Email: kif.liakath-ali@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

Dr Liku Tezera BM, MSc , PhD

Senior Research Fellow
Connect with Liku

Email: L.Tezera@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

Professor Mark Cragg

Professor in Experimental Cancer Biology

Research interests

  • Antibody biology
  • Antibody engineering
  • Cancer Immunotherapy
Connect with Mark

Email: M.S.Cragg@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 2381208452

ORCID

Dr Melanie Smith PhD

Research Fellow
Connect with Melanie

Email: MJL.Smith@soton.ac.uk

Dr Melissa Andrews

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • spinal cord injury
  • gene therapy
  • axonal regeneration

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Melissa

Email: M.R.Andrews@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2432

Google Scholar
ORCID

Professor Nick Evans

Professor of Bioengineering

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Nick

Email: N.D.Evans@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8120 5260

Google Scholar
ORCID
Twitter

Dr Nicole Prior

Lecturer

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Nicole

Email: N.R.J.Prior@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4222

ORCID

Dr Owen Rackham MSc, PhD

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Owen

Email: O.J.L.Rackham@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

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Enquiries

If you have specific research enquiries, please contact individual academics listed in the 'People' section on this page.

Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
Faculty of Medicine (School of Human Development and Health) 
University of Southampton  
Southampton General Hospital 
Tremona Road
Southampton SO16 6YD