Project (Lukas Cyganek)

The Stem Cell Unit at the University Medical Center Göttingen (www.stemcellunit.de) focuses on the generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their applications in genome editing, cardiac differentiation, tissue engineering and disease modelling. By combining iPSC technology with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and further state-of-the-art approaches, we aim to deeply investigate the development, function and pathophysiology of cardiomyocytes on molecular, omics-based as well as on functional level. Our research aims to uncover the pathophysiological mechanisms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to develop preventive and/or curative therapies such novel drugs or gene therapy approaches.
We offer an exciting and biomedically relevant research project, a creative and stimulating scientific environment with access to a broad spectrum of high-end technology and opportunities for extensive interdisciplinary collaborations.
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with substantial background in stem cell biology and cardiovascular medicine and experiences in omics-based approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics), general molecular biology, mammalian cell culture and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The successful candidate is expected to hold a Diploma or a Master’s degree in disciplines or fields related to biology, pharmacology or biochemistry and a strong interest in stem cell research to address interdisciplinary questions in the regenerative medicine.

• Hanses U, Kleinsorge M, Roos L, Yigit G, Li Y, Barbarics B, El-Battrawy I, Lan H, Tiburcy M, Hindmarsh R, Lenz C, Salinas G, Diecke S, Müller C, Adham I, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Paul T, Zimmermann WH, Hasenfuss G, Wollnik B, Cyganek L. Intronic CRISPR Repair in a Preclinical Model of Noonan Syndrome-Associated Cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 2020; 142(11).
  
  
• Kleinsorge M, Cyganek L. Subtype-Directed Differentiation of Human iPSCs into Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes. STAR Protocols. 2020; 100026.
  
  
• El-Battrawy I, Albers S, Cyganek L, Zhao Z, Lan H, Li X, Xu Q, Kleinsorge M, Huang M, Liao Z, Zhong R, Rudic B, Müller J, Dinkel H, Lang S, Diecke S, Zimmermann WH, Utikal J, Wieland T, Borggrefe M, Zhou X, Akin I. A cellular model of Brugada syndrome with SCN10A variants using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Europace. 2019; 21(9).
  
  
• Cyganek L, Tiburcy M, Sekeres K, Gerstenberg K, Bohnenberger H, Lenz C, Henze S, Stauske M, Salinas G, Zimmermann WH, Hasenfuss G, Guan K. Deep phenotyping of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes. JCI Insight. 2018; 3(12).
  
  
• El-Battrawy I, Lan H, Cyganek L, Zhao Z, Li X, Buljubasic F, Lang S, Yücel G, Sattler K, Zimmermann WH, Utikal J, Wieland T, Ravens U, Borggrefe M, Zhou XB, Akin I. Modeling Short QT Syndrome Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018; 7(7).