Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Utrecht is home to Regenerative Medicine Utrecht (RMU), a world-renowned collaboration of excellent knowledge institutes and start-ups. At RMU, we are continuously working on and developing cutting edge technologies and principles that can cure patients.

Researcher with a pincet and test tube.

Our research

Our research combines basic science with clinical applications through a strong translational approach, and in that we focus on stem cell and organoid biology, musculoskeletal tissue regeneration and cardiorenal tissue regeneration.

To show our work in these areas and the interdisciplinary character of RMU, we cover most of our technologies and approaches in these three themes:

The promise of regenerative medicine

At the moment, curing a disease is a rare occurrence. Many medicines and treatments are aimed at reducing symptoms or slowing progression. But with a global rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions – exacerbated by an aging population – innovative solutions for the prevention and cure of chronic illnesses are urgently required. For the patients, but also to mitigate rising healthcare costs.

Imagine that instead of fighting symptoms, it’s possible to actually cure a disease by utilizing the body’s own regenerative capacities. No more arthritis because we can replace or regrow the cartilage with the patient’s own stem cells. No more genetic diseases because we can fix the DNA in a relevant and localized manner. No more dialysis for kidney patients because they get a kidney transplant. Not from a donor but from their own tissue, which means no more immunosuppressants either.

By focusing on cure instead of care, regenerative medicine can help minimize the cost of treating chronic conditions and improve the lives of millions of patients living with long-term chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, rheumatic arthritis or diabetes. Personalized treatment for a group of patients or each patient individually is the long-term goal.

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Mission

  • To bring novel regenerative treatments for patients to standard clinical care.
  • To provide a center of excellence for biomedical, technological and stem cell-based research.
  • To attract, train and educate the next generation of investigators and caregivers to develop and implement regenerative therapies.
  • To incorporate societal perspectives through active connections to patient (societies) and relevant stakeholders.
  • To actively foster (international) collaboration with academia, government and industry.

Researcher working at ICAT>

Collaboration

In our journey to bring novel regenerative treatments to standard clinical care, we actively seek connections with societal organizations such as health foundations and patient organizations. These collaborations help to incorporate societal perspectives in the direction of our work and our working methods. We encourage our investigators to get in touch and welcome initiatives to establish new contacts with these stakeholders.

Our partners
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Education

We offer a full educational program from a master’s up to post-PhD summer schools, together with Utrecht University. Find out more about the educational program and collaborations on the RMU website. Education - Regenerative medicine - Utrecht University (uu.nl)

Our education
Jos Malda at the Biofabrication Lab.>

Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht

Regenerative Medicine Utrecht (RMU) fosters open innovation and close collaboration between academia, business and government. To facilitate innovation in this interdisciplinary field, the majority of our researchers works together in the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht.

Find out more about RMCU

People behind the program

Marianne Verhaar

Full Professor

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Jos Malda

Full Professor

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Stephan van Duin

Sr. Advisor Science Communication

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