About Us

The Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of cell-based therapies by integrating expertise in cell biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine to develop novel therapeutic approaches that address healthcare challenges.

A primary focus of our research is the utilization of stem cells and their derivatives in regenerative medicine. Our objective is to leverage the distinctive properties of stem cells to facilitate tissue repair and regeneration, thereby advancing the development of more efficacious therapeutic interventions for cutaneous and osseous injuries and disorders.

Furthermore, our research encompasses the evaluation of collagen-based biomaterials for cutaneous regeneration and the investigation of organic compounds, metals, and ceramics for potential application in the fabrication of osseous implants. Our objective is to develop advanced materials capable of seamless integration with biological systems, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes for patients requiring tissue repair or replacement.

A secondary focus of our lab is oriented towards the understanding of cardiovascular pathologies and the useage of biomaterials for obtaining vascular grafts and 3D models for the study of cardiovascular physiology. Our laboratory also offers training for individuals interested in learning cell culture techniques, providing hands-on experience and expert guidance in this essential area of biomedical research.

Ongoing projects 2025-2026

• 2026-2030: Deciphering the mechanisms of radiation induced cardiotoxicity iPSC-derived cardiac organoids; exosome-based therapeutic approach, PN-IV-PRO-CoEx-2024-1, project director: Prof. Univ. Dr. Dragoș VINEREANU

• 2025-2027: Innovative antimicrobial collagen based three dimensional scaffolds for craniofacial reconstruction, PN-IV-P7-7.1-PED-2024-1446, project director:Dr. Irina Titorencu
• 2025-2026: Studying the effects of vegetal extracts on a novel 3D model of cardiac fibrosis, L’Oréal UNESCO National Fellowship for Women in Science, 15th Edition, 2024-2025, “Life Sciences” Section.

• 2023-2026: Enhancing the endogenous anti-oxidant and cholesterol removal potential by gene editing in fatty liver disease; pre-clinical studies, 197 PNRR/2023, project director: Shlomo Sasson

Communications at scientific meetings 2025

• Vatamanu Sergiu-Marian, Ana Maria Roșca, Daniela Mădălina Ghețu, Irina Titorencu, The characterization of primary human fibroblasts, Poster communication, 42^nd Annual Scientific Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 20-21 November 2025, Bucharest, Romania;
  • Ana Maria Roșca, Raluca Țuțuianu, Vatamanu Sergiu-Marian, Mădălina Ghețu, Irina Titorencu, Composites Based on Collagen, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Sage Oil with Potential Use in Dentistry, Poster communication, 42^nd Annual Scientific Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 20-21 November 2025, Bucharest, Romania;
  • Daniela-Madalina Ghetu, Ana-Maria Rosca, Raluca Tutuianu, Maya Simionescu, Mirel Adrian Popa, Phenoxazine Counteracts High-Glucose-Induced Alterations of Human Mitochondrial Genes: Results on Cardiac Organoids. Poster communication at The International Conference "42^nd Annual Scientific Session of The Romanian Society for Cell Biology", 20-21 November 2025, Bucharest, Romania;

• Raluca Țuțuianu, I. Titorencu, M.G. Albu-Kaya, Characterization and Biological Assessment of Sturgeon-Derived Collagen Porous Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Engineering, Poster communication, 42^nd Annual Scientific Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 20-21 November 2025, Bucharest, Romania
• Daniela Mădălina Ghețu, Raluca Tutuianu, Madalina Georgiana Albu Kaya, Ana-Maria Roşca, Irina Titorencu, Development of three-dimensional intestinal organotypic models using various collagen-based dermal equivalents. Poster Communication at The International Conference "Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering (NanoBioMat)", June 25-27, 2025 (Summer Edition), online participation
• Daniela-Madalina Ghetu, Ana-Maria Rosca, Raluca Tutuianu, Maya Simionescu, Mirel Adrian Popa, Phenoxazine Reverses The High Glucose-Induced Mitochondrial Genes Dysregulation in Human Cardiac Organoids. Poster communication at "Engineered Models of Human Disease" Nature Conference, 28-29 October 2025, Belgrad, Serbia.

Training stages and courses

• Drd. Daniela-Madalina Ghetu ,”Applied In Vitro Toxicology Course” organized by the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) in collaboration with the Centre of Experimental Medicine SAS (CEM), 16-21 November 2025, Bratislava, Slovakia.

• PhD Raluca Tutuianu Visiting PhD at Unit of Cell and Gene Therapies – Cell Factory Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 15.09.2025 – 15.12.2025, Milan, Italy.

• Drd. Daniela-Madalina Ghetu , Training School ”3D Skin Cultures - From Methods to Applications” as part of the COST Action CA21108 "European Network for Skin Engineering and Modelling (NETSKINMODELS) Nijmegen, 28.06.2025- 4.07.2025, Radboud University Medical Center, Netherlands.

• PhD Raluca Tutuianu, Federation for Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) 10th International Course “Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: mice, rats and zebrafish” (ID 051/15), University of Crete - Department of Biology and Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology - FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 17 April - 7 June 2024

• Drd. Madalina Daniela Ghetu (Iacomi) - Visiting PhD Student at Leiden University Medical Center, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Leiden, the Netherlands, September 2023 – June 2024

• PhD Raluca Tutuianu, Training School Advancing skills in 3D skin and epidermal biology computer modelling, Cost action CA21108- European Network for Skin Engineering and Modeling, University of Surrey, United Kingdom, July 10-12, 2023

• Drd. Raluca Tutuianu, SciFi: from Scientists to Innovators for Industry, EIT Health, September –November 2022, on -line cours.

• Drd. Raluca Tutuianu, Practical training stage on exosomes isolation and characterization- UMC, Supervisor: Magdalena Lorenowicz, PhD., August 2018, Utrecht, Netherlands.

• PhD Irina Titorencu, Training stage in human endothelial progenitor cells isolation from umbilical and peripheral blood and in vitro expansion- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, Queen’s University, May-June 2012, Belfast, UK.

• PhD Irina Titorencu, Training stage in biocomposite synthesis and characterization, Group for Advanced Biomaterials Research, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, March-April 2012,Sofia, Bulgaria.

• PhD Irina Titorencu, Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine: from molecular and cell biology to tissues and organs repair, Department of Materials Engineering and Industrial Technologies and the BIOtech Interdepartment Research Center of the University of Trento, in collaboration with the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and the TERMIS-EU, September 2011, Italy.

• PhD Irina Titorencu, Bioactive/Biocompatible polymeric materials, Centre of polymer and Carbon Materials Zabrze, March 2011, Poland.

• Drd. Ana Maria Rosca – Practical Course: “MicroRNA profiling: From in-situ hybridization to next-generation sequencing” organized by EMBO, May 2011, Galway, Ireland.

• PhD Irina Titorencu, Advanced Summer Course in Cell-Materials interactions- Bioinspired matrices for tissue regeneration, Instituto de Engenharia Biomedica, June 2008, Porto, Portugal.