Project description
An immune-intestinal organoid for studying IBD
Adequate in vitro cell models for mimicking human diseases need to incorporate the different cell types that interact in the human body. The European Union HORIZON scheme is funding EDIOM, a project aiming to contribute to the development of such models. EDIOM will focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an incurable immune disorder of the digestive tract. EDIOM’s principal investigator previously established an organoid where immune and intestine cells can be studied together ex vivo. The system will be validated and used to test hypotheses on genes and cell interactions that may underlie IBD based on public data mining. Altogether, these experiments will provide mechanistic insights into the cellular and molecular causes of IBD.
Objective
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a collective term for bowel diseases caused by undesired immune reactions and can currently not be cured. To develop adequate treatments for IBD, we need to understand the nature and cause(s) of the pathogenic immune responses observed.
To identify mechanisms driving IBD in humans, we need apart from diagnostic correlative studies, adequate in vitro cell models that realistically recapitulate the in vivo situation and allow for intervention studies. Thus far, in vitro models that incorporate next to intestinal epithelium also supportive stroma and immune cells are lacking. In my PhD studies, I generated a map of the IBD-associated immune cell network by single-cell analyses of healthy and IBD patient samples. In my postdoctoral work, I have developed an Air Liquid Interphase (ALI) intestinal organoid platform derived from human samples that supports tissue-resident immune cells.
In this project, I aim to identify cellular and molecular networks driving IBD by diagnostic and intervention studies in intestinal ALI organoids.
For this purpose, I will: 1) Validate ALI intestinal organoids as accurate ex vivo model by analyzing their immune cell composition and functionality in spatial context; and 2) aligning this with the in vivo situation by data mining of public single-cell RNA-seq of inflamed intestines. 3) Integrate datasets generated in 1-2) to reveal cellular and molecular immune cell interactions associated with IBD; and 4) Implicate interactions identified under 3) in driving IBD by molecularly targeted interventions in ALI organoids. The proposed work will take place at host institute Leiden Univ. Medical Center, with a 4-month secondment phase at Technical Univ. Delft.
This project is expected to deliver insight into immunological mechanisms driving IBD and clinically translatable therapeutic interventions, by mechanistic studies in a novel in vitro system mimicking the in vivo cellular environment of human IBDs.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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2333 ZA Leiden
Netherlands
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