Sigmar Stricker to Lead New Department of Cell Biology at Karl Landsteiner University

Professor Sigmar Stricker began his role at Karl Landsteiner University (klu) in September 2025 as the Head of the newly established Department of Cell Biology. Stricker, who spent 25 years in Berlin, including as a professor at Freie Universität Berlin, aims to integrate his research on the musculoskeletal system and stem cells with the university's existing research priorities in allergology and immunology.

Stricker's research concentrates on the regeneration of the musculoskeletal system, encompassing muscles, bones, and tendons. He investigates how somatic stem cells contribute to tissue repair and how their effectiveness diminishes with age, leading to conditions such as sarcopenia and osteoporosis. The research aims to understand the mechanisms by which aging processes impact these cells and their function.

A key focus of his work involves epigenetic programs, which act as molecular switches to regulate gene activity within stem cells. Stricker employs modern "omics" technologies, including transcriptomics and proteomics, alongside epigenetic analyses to explore how environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet, can induce long-term changes. The research seeks to determine if early-life lifestyle choices can permanently affect stem cells, potentially predisposing individuals to diseases later in life.

Stricker has a long-term vision to decipher the "epigenetic loads" on the musculoskeletal system throughout a person's life and to develop new methods for modulating aging processes. "We need to understand how diet, the immune system, and stem cells jointly dictate the health of our locomotory system," Stricker stated. This systemic understanding is expected to contribute to maintaining mobility and quality of life into old age.