View all institutes, centres and groups
Research centre

Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration

Image of a mouse pancreatic organoid, nuclei are labelled in green or purple dependent on cell proliferation status

The CHDSCR brings together researchers studying stem cells and development and ways to promote the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues. We aim to provide an environment where excellent scientists can make exciting discoveries for patient benefit.

Part of Medicine

About

Our Vision: Translating pioneering developmental and stem cell science for patient benefit.

The Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration (CHDSCR) was founded in 2004 as a cross-disciplinary research and translational programme within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton.

The Centre undertakes fundamental research into early development and stem cells together with applied translational research targeting the NHS and patient benefit.

The Centre has vibrant and thriving interdisciplinary research programmes that harness the translational strength of the University together with an MRes program in Stem Cells, outstanding clinical infrastructure and enterprise to deliver on this vision.

The Centre comprises a grouping of scientists and clinician scientists with a shared interest in Stem Cells, Development and Regenerative Medicine within excellent core space in the Institute of Developmental Sciences and units across Southampton General Hospital and Institute for Life Sciences

Our Mission: Our aim is to understand early human development and fundamental stem cell biology to inform and aid our translation and development of cell therapies for regenerative medicine.

Professor Jon Dawson - Director

Research highlights

An extreme close-up of the tip of an injection needle, with a drop of nanoclay sitting at the tip.

Using nanoclay gel to regrow, repair and replace damaged cells

Health and wellbeing
Southampton researchers have developed an innovative medical clay that can be used to apply regenerative medicine to patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

People, projects, publications and PhDs

People

Dr Emily Brookes

Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

Research interests

  • Enhancer regulation of gene expression
  • Cortical development
  • Topological genome organisation

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Emily

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 23 8059 0245

ORCID

Dr Franchesca Houghton

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Pluripotent stem cells
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Preimplantation embryo development

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Franchesca

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 2381208731

ORCID

Emeritus Professor Graham Packham

Connect with Graham

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 2381206192

ORCID

Mr James Thompson CSci MIScT

Experimental Officer Electron Microscpst
Connect with James

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 2381203382

ORCID

Dr Janos Kanczler

Lecturer
Connect with Janos

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 7584496150

ORCID

Professor Jaswinder Sethi BSc DPhil FRSB

Professor of Immunometabolism

Research interests

  • Immunometabolism
  • Obesity
  • Metabolic diseases

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jaswinder

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 2381208502

Google Scholar
ORCID
LinkedIn
Twitter

Dr Jennifer Dewing

Research Fellow Clinical Neuroanatomy
Connect with Jennifer

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 7742112741

Professor Jon Dawson

Prof Fellow of Regenerative Medicine
Connect with Jon

Email: [email protected]

ORCID

Dr Jonathan West

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Time-Resolved Structural Biology The emergence of serial crystallography brings many exciting possibilities for structural biology but also brings the challenge of preparing many thousands of sub-micron crystals. To address this, we are working with Ivo Tews and Allen Orville to develop high throughput droplet microfluidic systems. Here volumetric confinement of the phase diagram defines growth limits for producing monodisperse protein crystals. Beyond this, the microfluidic processors can be interfaced with the beam line to enable dynamic structural biology.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jonathan

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 23 8059 3460

ORCID

Dr Jorn Lakowski

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Retinal Disease Modelling
  • Retinal Development
  • Drug Screening

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jorn

Email: [email protected]

ORCID

Related research institutes, centres and groups

Connect with us

Enquiries

If you have specific research enquiries, please contact individual academics listed in the 'People' section on this page.

Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
Faculty of Medicine (School of Human Development and Health) 
University of Southampton  
Southampton General Hospital 
Tremona Road
Southampton SO16 6YD