University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki’s (UH) medical school is renowned for its high-caliber translational research, placing fifth among European institutions in clinical medicine citation impact. It has produced a wealth of Finnish experts who serve in diverse roles both domestically and internationally, and provides comprehensive training for healthcare professionals, including physicians, dentists, psychologists, speech and language therapists, and translational medicine masters.
Work in m2M
UH has developed an efficient bulk CRISPR gene editing methodology which can provide effective autologous and/or allogeneic off-the-shelf gene therapies strategies. We recently demonstrated the potential of such CRISPRCas9 based gene editing for the engineering of inflammation-resistant cartilage, achieving high editing efficiency in targeting the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and the RELA gene, thereby providing multivalent protection against the signals that activate pro-inflammatory and catabolic pathways. These gene edited cells will be used to engineer inflammation responsive cartilage microtissues and incorporated into the m2M bioinks for subsequent bioprinting.
Researchers involved
Host Institutions/Labs
Past Publications
- Elkhashab et al. ADAMTS5-specific gapmer release from an albumin biomolecular assembly and cartilage internalization triggered by ultrasound. Drug Deliv. 2025 Dec;32(1):2464921. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2025.2464921.
- López-Cerdá et al. Antifibrotic and Pro-regenerative Effects of SMAD3 siRNA and Collagen I mRNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles in Human Tenocytes. ACS Appl Nano Mater. 2024 Jul 18;7(15):17736-17747. doi: 10.1021/acsanm.4c02996.
- Nurmi et al. Truncating NFKB1 variants cause combined NLRP3 inflammasome activation and type I interferon signaling and predispose to necrotizing fasciitis. Cell Rep Med. 2024 Apr 16;5(4):101503. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101503.
- Ponta et al. Streamlined, single-step non-viral CRISPR-Cas9 knockout strategy enhances gene editing efficiency in primary human chondrocyte populations. Arthritis Res Ther. 2024 Mar 11;26(1):66. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03294-w.
- Bonato et al. Engineering Inflammation-Resistant Cartilage: Bridging Gene Therapy and Tissue Engineering. Adv Healthc Mater. 2023 Jul;12(17):e2202271. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202202271.
