Dr. Konrad Hochedlinger

Biography

Konrad Hochedlinger is a prominent researcher at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Broad Institute. His lab focuses on the role stem cells play in normal development and disease. The research emphasizes the dual potential of stem cells to self-renew and differentiate into mature cell types, highlighting their significance in development, tissue homeostasis, and injury response in adults. Additionally, the lab explores how stem cells can be the origin of various cancer types. Hochedlinger aims to understand stem cell biology to utilize these cells in therapy and identify the factors controlling self-renewal and differentiation under normal and pathological conditions. His specific interest lies in embryonic stem cells derived from early embryos, which possess pluripotency—the ability to develop into all body cell types. He investigates the role of pluripotency genes and how they are active in rare adult cell types, where their functions remain poorly understood. Hochedlinger employs cell culture and animal model systems to further characterize the role of these genes and employs tools like gene targeting and mouse transgenesis to address fundamental questions related to stem cell origin and their potential use in regenerative medicine and cancer treatment.

Research Interests