Frisén Lab
Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Regenerative Medicine
We explore how old cells are replaced during physiological conditions, and how cell replacement and lineage progression are affected by injuries and diseases. Our driving goal is helping the body replace worn-out or damaged cells and tissues.
Cell Generation & Lineage Tracing
Using carbon-14 birth dating and somatic mutation analysis to study cell turnover and lineage relationships in humans.
CNS Injury & Repair
Discovering how astrocytes and neural stem cells can be recruited to generate new neurons after brain and spinal cord injury.
Cancer & Immunology
Mapping the clonal dynamics and spatial distribution of immune cells in tumors and healthy tissues.
Research Highlights
Astrocytes as a reservoir for new neurons in the brain
Astrocyte means 'star cell'. Because of their intrinsic similarity with adult neural stem cells, astrocytes may emerge as stars of the brain, harboring an intrinsic neurogenic capacity that could one day be harnessed for therapeutic purposes.
Dynamics of oligodendrocyte generation and myelination
Research by Maggie Yeung and colleagues exploring oligodendrocyte turnover in multiple sclerosis patients found an unexpected dynamic of oligodendrocyte renewal.
Yeung et al., Nature, 2019 — Read article
A silver lining on the mushroom cloud
Carbon dating reveals neurogenesis in the adult human brain. By exploiting carbon-14 generated by nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, we developed a method to retrospectively birth date cells in humans.