Prof. Corinne Hoesli, Ph.D.
Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada
Phone +1-514-398-4274, E: [email protected]
My main focus of scientific interest is understanding cell-cell interactions and cell population dynamics. Deciphering the way cells interact with both their immediate culture environment as well as with their neighbouring cells is something that fascinates me. Cell signalling events following extracellular stimulation and subsequent alterations in cell fate are highly complex in their multitude and connectivity. Which is precisely why I find them so attractive to investigate.
The characterization of cell-subpopulations and cell-material interactions were already a focus of my studies as a PhD student, in which I also tracked cell fate in vivo using live MR imaging and infrared tomography. During this time, I was also introduced to the field of cell therapy, in which research groups are trying to find ways to use human cells as a therapeutic product. This idea has become the central nexus around which I built the core of my research work.
My main goal is to advance our understanding of cell behaviour and cell fate in the context of generating cell therapy products.
Having touched on the field of cell-material interactions, I then investigated the effect of defined surface topographies on cell biology using a high-throughput micro-chip system, the TopoChip, during my first postdoctoral research study. This work in the field of tissue engineering helped me understand the effect of surface topography and mechanical forces on cell fate. However, I still did not fully understand the molecular interactions at the interface of cells with their culture surfaces, which is an essential step in controlling and directing cell fate in vitro.
Cell-material and cell-surface interactions are now the main pillars of my current second postdoctoral research project. The objective is to characterize the effect of commercially relevant cell culture surfaces on monocyte fate for therapeutic purposes. This project combines my knowledge of cell biology using donor-derived cells in a defined in vitro culture environment with the analytical technologies available in the field of chemical engineering.
In my future work, I want to employ high-content imaging and live cell tracking at the cell-cell and cell-material interface to advance translational research for cell therapy. In combining approaches and technologies used in immunology, cell biology, tissue engineering and surface science I aim to better understand the current limitations and possibilities of innovative cell products for their clinical application in cell therapy.
Project: Effects of fluoropolymer surface properties on monocyte cell fate
The objective of this project is to study the interactions between human monocytes and commercially relevant culture surfaces. To this end, the different culture surfaces are tested for their effect on monocyte cell fate and their therapeutic potential.
Project: STROMA – EU 7th FP PEOPLE 2011 ITN – Marie Curie
Using a library of pre-selected surface patterns, the aim of this project was to identify and validate those defined surface topographies that significantly elicit B cell-specific lymph node stromal cell architecture and function.
The main focus of my work at Materiomics B.V. was to develop and optimize assays to investigate cell-surface and cell-material interactions using the proprietary TopoChip high-throughput screening platform. To this end, I cultured primary human platelets, macrophages, MSCs and rhesus macaque-derived hepatocytes, identified appropriate screening targets and performed screening assays.
Project: REBORNE – EU 7th FP HEALTH-2009-1.4-2
To track cell distribution and map the fate of MSCs in vivo I used nanoparticle-based real-time imaging. In collaboration with the Department of Macromolecular Chemistry we investigated the effect of materials and cell-surface interactions on MSC viability and proliferation.
Project: CASCADE – EU 7th FP HEALTH–2007–1.4-7
The aim of this EU-wide project was to establish GMP-compliant clinical-scale expansion of bone marrow-derived MSCs both in bioreactor as well as in static tissue culture systems. Further, platelet lysate was developed as a novel cell culture supplement for cell therapy. Its effect on cell fate was extensively characterized in early and late passage MSCs, regarding both their phenotype and in vitro migratory capacities.
The objective of the project was to investigate the intracellular shuttling of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus following B cell receptor stimulation. A mass spectrometric analysis was performed to identify SHP-1 binding partners in the nucleus. This improved our understanding of novel SHP-1-based signaling pathways.
Thesis: "Mesenchymal stromal cells for cell therapy: Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant expansion systems and nanoparticle-based imaging"
Thesis: “Function of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in the nucleus”
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