Cell Biology of Tissue Aging
Video Description
Electron microscopy-resolved intestinal crypt, being the region of the intestine homing stem cells. Shown are stem cell surfaces and nuclei (green) located at the crypt base and crypt edge (blue), Paneth niche cells (yellow) and progenitor cells (grey).
We started our group in July 2024 at the vibrant MPI-CBG in Germany, where we are thriving to answer the following question.
How Organs Change with Age
As we age, our bodies undergo many changes — one crucial being a decline in the function of stem cells that support our organ function.
The Scharaw lab investigates how the decline of stem cell function affects the body’s ability to constantly renew cells of our organs. A key focus of the lab is the role of the endomembrane system — a network within cells that acts as a series of transportation hubs, allowing stem cells to transmit signals. With age, changes in this system can impair stem cell function.
We are studying how the organisation of the endomembrane system influences communication between stem cells and their neighboring cells, and how this impacts organ renewal. By understanding these processes, we aim to pave the way for new strategies to support organ health as we age.
Recent News from the Lab
09.2026
Hört mal rein
Sandra durfte bei dem Podcast „Abenteuer Wissenschaft“ dabei sein. Im Gespräch mit Forschenden aus der digitalen Gesundheit und der theoretischen Physik ging es um Neugier, Begeisterung und auch die Zweifel, die zum Forschen dazugehören. Jana Forkel und Stephan Wiegand führten durch den offenen und persönlichen Austausch darüber. Hört einfach mal rein: https://www.podcast.de/episode/705796840/abenteuer-wissenschaft-wie-schwer-ist-es-forscherin-zu-sein-teil-1, https://www.podcast.de/episode/706095199/abenteuer-wissenschaft-wie-schwer-ist-es-forscherin-zu-sein-teil-2, https://www.podcast.de/episode/706734480/abenteuer-wissenschaft-wie-schwer-ist-es-forscherin-zu-sein-teil-3
08.2026
Our Lab at the GRC for Stem cell and Niches
The Epithelial Stem Cells and Niches GRC in Barcelona has wrapped up, with our lab contributing a talk and a poster presentation. It was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas with our community, reconnect with familiar faces and meet new colleagues. A big thank you to GRC chairs Kara McKinley and Sarah Knox for putting together an outstanding program and creating such a welcoming atmosphere for scientific discussions.
07.2026
paper published!
We are extremely proud that our paper entitled “Golgi organization regulates stem cell function in the small intestine.” is now published at Nature Communications: https://rdcu.be/fwQ2W. This is the result of the research work of Sandra and co-authors started during her postdoc in the Katajisto lab and continued in our lab at MPI-CBG. Using Volume EM imaging and membrane trafficking assays in organoids, we discovered that intestinal stem cells optimize niche signal reception by having multiple lateral Golgi stacks facing Paneth cells.
