Cornelia Kasper

Prof. Cornelia Kasper is a University Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences and leading the Institute of Cell and Tissue Culture Technologies. Her research focuses on advancing 3D cell culture, stem cell engineering, tissue engineering, and bioreactor development to support regenerative medicine and reduce animal testing.

Her research interests span Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, Bioprocess Engineering, Stem Cell Research, 3D Cell Culture, Bioreactor Development, Biomaterials, Cell Therapy, In Vitro Models, and Medical Biotechnology. She pioneers methods for cultivating mesenchymal stem cells under physiologically relevant conditions using dynamic bioreactors and novel biomaterials like nanocellulose and alginate-based hydrogels. Her work emphasizes scalability, monitoring, and functional differentiation for clinical translation.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in 3D stem cell culture systems, particularly using bioreactors and hydrogel encapsulation for mesenchymal stem cells. Key themes include multilineage differentiation under physiological conditions, development of tunable biomaterials (e.g., GelMA, nanocellulose), non-invasive monitoring in bioreactors, and functional analysis of extracellular vesicles. These reflect a cohesive research program aimed at industrial-scale, reproducible, and clinically relevant stem cell manufacturing.

Her scientific awards include:

• Stipendium 'Think, Leadership and Act' (Fortbildung für Führungskräfte) 2010
• Habilitationsstipendium 2000–2006
• Stipendium für Auslandsaufenthalt University of California Berkeley 1991

Prof. Kasper has supervised numerous students and early-career researchers, as seen in her extensive co-authorship on conference presentations. She has led research groups and secured significant academic recognition, including a full professorship at BOKU in 2011. She has also been actively involved in academic service, notably as chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee at BOKU since 2013. Her work is supported by participation in national and international scientific networks and collaborations in advanced cell therapy and tissue engineering.

She leads a research team focused on Cell and Tissue Culture Technologies, working on dynamic 3D cultivation, bioreactor design, and the development of in vitro models for regenerative applications. The lab integrates process engineering with biological functionality to create scalable and physiologically relevant cell culture platforms.