Alexander B Mohseny

During my PhD research, I focused on the development of several osteosarcoma models to gain a better understanding of this highly complex malignant disease mainly affecting children and young adults (publications 1-5). Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) seemed to play an important role. In the following years, I increasingly developed interest in other functions of MSC’s related to stromal support for hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and bone marrow failure (BMF). My recent efforts were mainly directed at improving curative patient care for pediatric patients with non-malignant hematological disorders, mainly BMF (6-9). I initiated studies to underline the importance of early diagnostics and intervention for these groups and wrote a national protocol aiming at standardized diagnostics and treatment strategies (10). Important accomplishments following these efforts include the formation of an Expert Panel situated at the LUMC, to advise on swift diagnosis and treatment strategies for these vulnerable patients and the recent assignment as national center of expertise for BMF. For the following years I plan to focus my research activities at the translational border of the processes within the bone marrow niche (MSC based model) which might be influential for the development of BMF as markers for better diagnostics as well as targets for novel less toxic treatment strategies.