• Stem Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Neural stem cells and neuroregeneration
• Totipotent stem cells
• Regenerative medicine

My research explores the stem cells, embryonic lineages and molecular basis of early embryo development and tissue repair and regeneration for therapeutic use. By using a variety of methods in molecular biology, developmental biology and multi-omics, we aim to gain novel insights in mammalian development and develop regenerative medical applications.

Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) and neuroregeneration

NSCs, the foundational blocks of neural development, are self-renewing, multipotent cells that can generate all neural cell types, including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. For decades, scientists assumed that NSCs are only found in the brain and spinal cord. Our groundbreaking study has now refuted this assumption and discovered a new type of NSCs, called peripheral NSCs (pNSCs), outside the central nervous system. Our discovery of pNSCs opens up new avenues of research in the field and enormous possibilities for the development of therapies for neurological diseases. We aim to study whether and how these cells could be exploited therapeutically. A major goal is to determine whether pNSCs are conserved in humans.

Totipotent stem cells

Totipotent cells can give rise to all the differentiated cells in both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues and have greater developmental potency than any other stem cell types. Despite the central importance of totipotency in establishing life, the molecular mechanism by which the embryonic chromatin is reprogrammed to a totipotent state to trigger zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is poorly understood. We aim to use our novel totipotent stem cells to study this process, which will help us to understand and manipulate cell fate and cellular state. This knowledge will pave the way for establishing more efficient protocols for cellular reprogramming in regenerative medicine.

1. Han D (co-corresponding author), Xu W, Jeong HW, Park H, Weyer K, Tsytsyura Y, Stehling M, Wu G, Lan G, Kim KP, Renner H, Han DW, Chen Y, Gerovska D, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Klingauf J, Schwamborn JC, Adams RH, Liu P, Schöler HR. Multipotent neural stem cells originating from neuroepithelium exist outside the mouse central nervous system. Nat Cell Biol. 2025 Apr;27(4):605-618.
2. Han D, Schöler HR. Peripheral neural stem cells from the neural tube contribute to multi-organ neurogenesis. Nat Cell Biol. 2025 Apr;27(4):561-562.
3. Han D, Wu G, Chen R, Drexler HCA, MacCarthy CM, Kim KP, Adachi K, Gerovska D, Mavrommatis L, Bedzhov I, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Schöler HR. A balanced Oct4 interactome is crucial for maintaining pluripotency. Sci Adv. 2022 Feb 18;8(7):eabe4375.
4. Mavrommatis L, Jeong HW, Kindler U, Gomez-Giro G, Kienitz MC, Stehling M, Psathaki OE, Zeuschner D, Bixel MG, Han D, Morosan-Puopolo G, Gerovska D, Yang JH, Kim JB, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Schwamborn JC, Hahn SA, Adams RH, Schöler HR, Vorgerd M, Brand-Saberi B, Zaehres H. Human skeletal muscle organoids model fetal myogenesis and sustain uncommitted PAX7 myogenic progenitors. Elife. 2023 Nov 14:12:RP87081.
5. Doeser MC, Krygin J, Röpke A, Han D, Wedlich-Söldner R, Schöler HR, Pavenstädt H, Kim KP. Generation of a human iPSC line (MPIi008-A) from a patient with Denys-Drash syndrome. Stem Cell Res. 2022 Jul:62:102826.
6. Liu Y, Chen Q, Jeong HW, Han D, Fabian J, Drexler HCA, Stehling M, Schöler HR, Adams RH. Dopamine signaling regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function. Blood. 2021 Nov 25;138(21):2051-2065.
7. Kim KP, Choi J, Yoon J, Bruder JM, Shin B, Kim J, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Han D, Wu G, Han DW, Kim J, Cramer P, Schöler HR. Permissive epigenomes endow reprogramming competence to transcriptional regulators. Nat. Chem. Biol. 2021 Jan; 17(1): 47-56.
8. Wu G, Han D, Gong Y, Sebastiano V, Gentile L, Singhal N, Adachi K, Fischedick G, Ortmeier C, Sinn M, Radstaak M, Tomilin A, Schöler HR. Establishment of totipotency does not depend on Oct4A. Nat Cell Biol. 2013 Sep;15(9):1089-1097.
9. Esch D, Vahokoski J, Groves MR, Pogenberg V, Cojocaru V, Vom Bruch H, Han D, Drexler HC, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Ng CK, Jauch R, Wilmanns M, Schöler HR. A unique Oct4 interface is crucial for reprogramming to pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol. 2013 Mar;15(3):295-301.​
10. Han D, Liu XY, Jiao GZ, Liang B, He N, Gao WQ, Tan JH. Cyclin B1 turnover and the mechanism causing insensitivity of fully grown mouse oocytes to cycloheximide inhibition of meiotic resumption. Theriogenology. 2012 Jun;77(9):1900-1910.
11. Han D, Cao XY, Wang HL, Li JJ, Wang YB, Tan JH. Effects of puberty and gonadotropins on the molecular events controlling meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes. Reproduction. Jun2010; 139(6): 959-969.
12. Han D, Zhao BT, Liu Y, Li JJ, Wu YG, Lan GC, and Tan JH. Interactive effects of low temperature and roscovitine (ROS) on meiotic resumption and developmental potential of goat oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. May 2008; 75(5): 838-846.
13. Han D, Lan GC, Wu YG, Han ZB, Wang HL, and Tan JH. Factors affecting the efficiency and reversibility of roscovitine (ROS) block on the meiotic resumption of goat oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. Feb 2006; 73(2): 238-246.

• Max Planck Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015)
• Travel Award Winner of 2016 ISSCR annual meeting
• Member of International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
• Member of German Stem Cell Network (GSCN)

Please directly contact Dr. Dong Han (dhan23@hku.hk) for project details and opportunities (undergraduate and postgraduate researchers welcomed).