Stefan Hainzl, PhD

Scientific Associate

Contact

Research statement

My scientific field of interest lies in the development of therapeutic options for EB. In particular ex vivo gene and cell therapies. I have a broad experience in several state of the art technologies used in this field, in particular RNA trans splicing, CRISPR/Cas9 and viral transduction of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts.
Currently I am working on the development of a CRISPR/CAS9-mediated preclinical model for EB. If successful this would be a great contribution to the EB community and researchers worldwide.

Curriculum Vitae Stefan Hainzl

Professional Career

Since 2009
Scientific Associate at the EB House Austria

Education

2016
PhD, Paris Lodron University Salzburg
Improvement of COL7A1-specific RNA trans-splicing molecules to enhance trans-splicing induced gene correction in Epidermolysis bullosa
Research Group: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Johann Bauer

2009
MSc in Genetics and Biotechnology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg
"Interleukin 31 receptor expression on human monocyte derived dendritic cells"
Research group: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Albert Duschl

2005
BSc in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg

Awards and Fellowships

2017 Scientific award from the ÖGDV
2017 Poster Prize of the European Society for Dermatological Research
2017 Poster Prize & Mobility award of the ÖGDV Science Days
2017 Scientific award in bronze from the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg
2016 Scientific award in bronze from the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg
2015 Scientific award in bronze from the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg
2014 Scientific award in bronze from the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg

Additional qualifications/training

2017 Electron microscope course, University of Salzburg
2015 Seminar: Scientific writing, University of Salzburg
2015 GMP Basic Course- Good Manufacturing Practice, Dr. Bichlmeier Seminare, Munich
2014 Training in Flow Cytometry on BD Aria III FACS sorter, Salzburg
2012 eBioscience Workshop: Training in Flow Cytometry, LIMCR, Salzburg
2012 Good Clinical Practise Course, CRCS, Salzburg
2011 Cell Signaling and Flow Cytometry course, Core Facility of Flow Cytometry, Medical University, Vienna
2010 EMBO Workshop: "Viral Vectors in Gene therapy: Applications and Novel Production Methods" Kuopio, Finland
2010 Training in Flow Cytometry on Beckman Coulter FC500 & FC Gallios, Kaluza Software

Original articles

Klermund J, Rhiel M, Kocher T, Chmielewski KO, Bischof J, Andrieux G, el Gaz M, Hainzl S, Boerries M, Cornu TI, Koller U, Cathomen T. On- and off-target effects of paired CRISPR-Cas nickase in primary human cells. Molecular Therapy 2024.
Hainzl S, Trattner L, Liemberger B, Bischof J, Kocher T, Ablinger M, Nyström A, Obermayer A, Klausegger A, Gruber C, Wally V, Bauer JW, Piñón Hofbauer J, Koller U. Splicing Modulation via Antisense Oligonucleotides in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024.
Illmer J, Zauner R, Piñón Hofbauer J, Wimmer M, Gruner S, Ablinger M, Bischof J, Dorfer S, Hainzl S, Tober V, Bergson S, Sarig O, Samuelov L, Guttmann-Gruber C, Shalom-Feuerstein R, Sprecher E, Koller U, Laimer M, Bauer JW, Wally V. miR-200b-mediated reversion of a spectrum of epithelial to mesenchymal transition states in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa squamous cell carcinomas. The British journal of dermatology 2023.
Liemberger B, Bischof J, Ablinger M, Hainzl S, Murauer EM, Lackner N, Ebner P, Kocher T, Nyström A, Wally V, Mayr E, Guttmann-Gruber C, Piñón Hofbauer J, Bauer JW, Koller U. (2023). COL7A1 Editing via RNA Trans-Splicing in RDEB-Derived Skin Equivalents. Int J Mol Sci 24(5):4341.
Zwicklhuber J, Kocher T, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Bischof J, Strunk D, Raninger AM, Gratz I, Wally V, Guttmann-Gruber C, Piñón Hofbauer J, Bauer JW, Koller U (2023). A Novel Fluorescence-Based Screen of Gene Editing Molecules for Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Int J Mol Sci 24(6):5197.
Petković I, Bischof J, Kocher T, March OP, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Strunk D, Raninger AM, Binder AM, Reichelt J, Guttman-Gruber C, Wally V, Piñón Hofbauer J, Bauer JW, Koller U. COL17A1 editing via homology-directed repair in junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Front Med 2022, 9:976604.
Bischof J, March OP, Liemberger B, Haas SA, Hainzl S, Petković I, Leb-Reichl V, Illmer J, Korotchenko E, Klausegger A, Hoog A, Binder H-M, Garcia M, Duarte B, Strunk D, Larcher F, Reichelt J, Guttmann-Gruber C, Wally V, Hofbauer JP, Bauer JW, Cathomen T, Kocher T, Koller U. Paired nicking-mediated COL17A1 reframing for junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Molecular Therapy 2022.
Mayr E, Ablinger M, Lettner T, Murauer EM, Guttmann-Gruber C, Piñón Hofbauer J, Hainzl S, Kaiser M, Klausegger A, Bauer JW, Koller U, Wally V. 5’ RNA Trans-Splicing Repair of COL7A1 Mutant Transcripts in Epidermolysis bullosa. Int J Mol Sci 2022, 23(3):1732.
Woess K, Sun Y, Morio H, Stierschneider A, Kaufmann A, Hainzl S, Trattner L, Kocher T, Tockner B, Leb-Reichl V, Steiner M, Brachtl G, South AP, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Furihata T, Wally V, Koller U, Piñón Hofbauer J, Guttmann-Gruber C. Evaluating a Targeted Cancer Therapy Approach Mediated by RNA trans-Splicing In Vitro and in a Xenograft Model for Epidermolysis Bullosa-Associated Skin Cancer. International journal of molecular sciences 2022;23.
Kocher T, Bischof J, Haas SA, March OP, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Illmer J, Hoog A, Muigg K, Binder HM, Klausegger A, Strunk D, Bauer JW, Cathomen T, Koller U. A non-viral and selection-free COL7A1 HDR approach with improved safety profile for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids, 2021
Bornert O, Hogervorst M, Nauroy P, Bischof J, Swildens J, Athanasiou I, Tufa SF, Keene DR, Kiritsi D, Hainzl S, Murauer EM, Marinkovich MP, Platenburg G, Hausser I, Wally V, Ritsema T, Koller U, Haisma EM, Nyström A. QR-313, an Antisense Oligonucleotide, Shows Therapeutic Efficacy for Treatment of Dominant and Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Preclinical Study. J Invest Dermatol
Ablinger M, Lettner T, Friedl N, Potocki H, Palmetzhofer T, Koller U, Illmer J, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Klausegger A, Reisenberger M, Lambert J, Van Gele M, Desmet E, Van Maelsaeke E, Wimmer M, Zauner R, Bauer JW, Wally V. Personalized Development of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Exon Skipping Restores Type XVII Collagen Expression in Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. 2021;22:3326.
Kwik M, Hainzl S, Oppelt J, Tichy B, Koller U, Bernardinelli E, Steiner M, Zara G, Nofziger C, Weis S, Paulmichl M, Dossena S, Patsch W, Soyal SM (2021) Selective Activation of CNS and Reference PPARGC1A Promoters Is Associated with Distinct Gene Programs Relevant for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22(7), 3296
Wimmer M, Zauner R, Ablinger M, Piñón-Hofbauer J, Guttmann-Gruber C, Reisenberger M, Lettner T, Niklas N, Proell J, Sajinovic M, De Souza P, Hainzl S, Kocher T, Murauer EM, Bauer JW, Strunk D, Reichelt J, Mellick AS, Wally V. A cancer stem cell-like phenotype is associated with miR-10b expression in aggressive squamous cell carcinomas. Cell Commun Signal 2020;18:61
Kocher T, March OP, Bischof J, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Klausegger A, Hoog A, Strunk D, Bauer JW, Koller U. Predictable CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated COL7A1 Reframing for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. J Invest Dermatol. 2020, ISSN 0022-202X
Bornert O, Kocher T, Gretzmeier C, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Koller U, Nyström A. Generation of rabbit polyclonal human and murine collagen VII monospecific antibodies: A useful tool for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa therapy studies. Matrix Biology Plus 2019, 100017, ISSN 2590-0285
Kocher T, Wagner RN, Klausegger A, Guttmann-Gruber C, Hainzl S, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Koller U. Improved Double-Nicking Strategies for COL7A1-Editing by Homologous Recombination. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2019;18:496-507
March OP, Lettner T, Klausegger A, Ablinger M, Kocher T, Hainzl S, Peking P, Lackner N, Rajan N, Hofbauer JP, Guttmann-Gruber C, Bygum A, Koller U, Reichelt J. Gene editing-mediated disruption of epidermolytic ichthyosis-associated KRT10 alleles restores filament stability in keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol. 2019 Aug;139(8):1699-1710.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.03.1146. Epub 2019 Apr 15.
Peking P, Breitenbach JS, Ablinger M, Muss WH, Poetschke FJ, Kocher T, Koller U, Hainzl S, Kitzmueller S, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Lettner T, Wally V. An ex-vivo RNA trans-splicing strategy to correct human generalized severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Jan;180(1):141-148. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17075. Epub 2018 Oct 7.
Liemberger B, Piñón Hofbauer J, Wally V, Arzt C, Hainzl S, Kocher T, Murauer EM, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Koller U. RNA Trans-Splicing Modulation via Antisense Molecule Interference. Int J Mol Sci 2018;19(3), 762; doi:10.3390/ijms19030762.
Kocher T, Peking P, Klausegger A, Murauer EM, Piñón Hofbauer J, Wally V, Lettner T, Hainzl S, Ablinger M, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Koller U. Cut and Paste: efficient homology-directed repair of a dominant negative KRT14 mutation via CRISPR/Cas9 nickases. Mol Ther 2017;25(11):2585-2598.
Hung CY,Volkmar B ,Baker JD, Bauer JW ,Gussoni E, Hainzl S, Klausegger A,Lorenzo J, Mihalek I,Rittinger O,Tekin M ,Dallman JE ,Bodamer OA. A defect in the inner kinetochore protein CENPT causes a new syndrome of severe growth failure.PLoS One.2017 Dec 11;12(12):e0189324. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189324. eCollection 2017.
Hainzl S, Peking P, Kocher T, Murauer EM, Larcher F, Del Rio M, Duarte B, Steiner M, Klausegger A, Bauer JW, Reichelt J, Koller U. COL7A1 editing via CRISPR/Cas9 in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Mol Ther 2017;25(11):2573-2584.
Hüttner C, Murauer EM, Hainzl S, Kocher T, Neumayer A, Reichelt J, Bauer JW, Koller U. Designing Efficient Double RNA trans-Splicing Molecules for Targeted RNA Repair. Int J Mol Sci 2016;17(10). pii: E1609.
Tockner B, Kocher T, Hainzl S, Reichelt J, Bauer JW, Koller U*, Murauer EM*. Construction and validation of a RNA trans-splicing molecule suitable to repair a large number of COL7A1 mutations. Gene Ther 2016;23(11):775-784. *joint senior authorship
Peking P*, Koller U*, Hainzl S, Kitzmueller S, Kocher T, Mayr E, Nystrom A, Lener T, Reichelt J, Bauer JW, Murauer EM. A gene gun-mediated non-viral RNA trans-splicing strategy for Col7a1 repair. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2016;5:e287. *equally contributed
Koller U, Hainzl S, Kocher T, Hüttner C, Klausegger A, Gruber C, Mayr E, Wally V, Murauer EM. Trans-splicing improvement by the combined application of antisense strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2015;16(1):1179-1191.
Kazanis I, Feichtner M, Lange S, Rotheneichner P, Hainzl S, Öller M, Schallmoser K, Rohde E, Reitsamer HA, Couillard-Despres S, Bauer HC, Franklin RJ, Aigner L, Rivera FJ. Lesion-induced accumulation of platelets promotes survival of adult neural stem / progenitor cells. Exp Neurol. 2015 Jul;269:75-89. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.03.018. Epub 2015 Mar 24.
Grössinger EM, Weiss L, Zierler S, Rebhandl S, Krenn PW, Hinterseer E, Schmölzer J, Asslaber D, Hainzl S, Neureiter D, Egle A, Piñón-Hofbauer J, Hartmann TN, Greil R, Kerschbaum HH, Targeting proliferation of chronic lymphomcytic leukemia (CLL) cells through KCa3.1 blockage. Leukemia. 2014 Apr;28(4):954-8.
Gruber C*, Koller U*, Murauer EM, Hainzl S, Hüttner C, Kocher T, South AP, Hintner H, Bauer JW. The design and optimization of RNA trans-splicing molecules for skin cancer therapy. MolOncol 2013;7(6):1056-1068. *equally contributed
Murauer EM, Koller U, Hainzl S, Wally V, Bauer JW. A reporter-based screen to identify potent 3' trans-splicing molecules for endogenous RNA repair. Hum. Gene Ther. Methods 2013;24(1):19-27.
Lettner T, Lang R, Klausegger A, Hainzl S, Bauer JW, Wally V. MMP-9 and CXCL8/IL-8 are potential therapeutic targets in epidermolysis bullosa simplex.PLoS One. 2013 Jul 19;8(7):e70123.
Horejs-Hoeck J, Schwarz H, Lamprecht S, Maier E, Hainzl S, Schmittner M, Posselt G, Stoecklinger A, Hawranek T, Duschl A. Dendritic cells activated by IFN-/STAT1 express IL-31 receptor and release proinflammatory mediators upon IL-31 treatment. JImmunol. 2012 Jun 1; 188(11):5319-26.
Egger M, Jürets A, Wallner M, Briza P, Ruzek S, Hainzl S, Pichler U, Kitzmüller C, Bohle B, Huber CG, Ferreira F. Assessing protein immunogenicity with a dendritic cell line-derived endolysosomal degradome. PLoS One 2011. 6(2): e17278
Koller U, Wally V, Mitchell LG, Klausegger A, Murauer EM, Mayr E, Gruber C, Hainzl S, Hintner H, Bauer JW. A novel screening system improves genetic correction by internal exon replacement. Nucleic Acids Res 2011;39(16):e108.
Wally V, Brunner B, Lettner T, Wagner M, Koller U, Trost A, Murauer EM, Hainzl S, Hintner H, Bauer JW. KRT14 mRNA reprogramming for dominant epidermolysis bullosa simplex. Hum Mol Genet 2010;19(23):4715-4725.

Reviews

Hainzl S, Guttmann-Gruber C. Innovative Methoden zur Probengewinnung bei Epidermolysis-bullosa-Patienten. Spectrum Dermatologie 2021;01:26-8.
Hainzl S, Peking P. ÖGDV Preisträger stellen sich vor: Der Wissenschaftspreis der ÖGDV 2017 ging an Dr. rer. nat. Stefan Hainzl und Dr. rer. nat. Patricia Peking aus Salzburg. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2018 Apr;16(4):527-528.
Boraschi D, Lucchesi D, Hainzl S, Leitner M, Maier E, Mangelberger D, Oostingh GJ, Pfaller T, Pixner C, Posselt G, Italiani P, Nold MF, Nold-Petry CA, Bufler P, Dinarello CA (2011) IL-37: a new anti-inflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 family.Eur Cytokine Netw. 22(3):127-47.

Other

Kocher T, March OP, Bischof J, Liemberger B, Hainzl S, Klausegger A, Hoog A, Strunk D, Bauer JW, Koller U. CRISPR-Cas9-basierte Korrekturstrategie – vorhersagbare Reparaturergebnisse. Spectrum Dermatologie 2020;04/2020:62-3.