Ongoing Projects & Funding

What is Tissue Engineering?

Tissue engineering (TE) integrates engineering, biology, and materials science to develop biological substitutes for restoring or enhancing tissue function. Challenges in tissue replacement include a shortage of donor tissue and immune system reactions, which tissue engineering seeks to overcome.

In the 1990s, TE emerged, focusing on laboratory-engineered replacement tissues designed to bypass immune defenses using strategies like stem cells. The ultimate goal is to create functional tissues or organs for transplantation and boost the body’s regenerative abilities.

The Tissue Engineering Group

Established in 2006 within the Department of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Bergen, the Tissue Engineering group, under the leadership of Prof. Kamal Mustafa, seeks to tackle the scarcity of tissues essential for repair and regeneration. Comprising a diverse team of scientists, clinicians, and bioengineers, the group collaborates closely with both national and international partners. It has consistently secured funding from various sources, including national, international, and EU agencies, to lead and organize extensive pre-clinical and clinical research initiatives. Additionally, the group is affiliated with the Bergen Stem Cell Consortium.