Zahra Dadashi is a PhD student at the LBI-NVPM, where she investigates the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs), tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCMs), as well as ovine fetal mesenchymal stem cells and cord blood–derived cells, for the treatment of tendinopathy in sheep using both in vitro and in vivo models. Her research focuses on evaluating the effects of EV-based therapies on inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling at the gene, protein, and histological levels, aiming to characterize their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties.

She began her PhD in April 2025 at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in collaboration with the LBI-NVPM and Paracelsus Medical University. Before joining the institute, she completed her Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, where she focused on the therapeutic effects of seaweed-based scaffolds on bone regeneration in vitro, conducting chemical, mechanical, and biological assessments, as well as evaluating toxicity and in vivo degradability of the scaffolds in a rat model.

Supervision: Prof. Florien Jenner, Doz. Dr. Mario Gimona, Prof. Dr. Andreas Traweger