Project description
The role of antibody-producing immune cells in gut healing
Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition characterised by recurring intestinal inflammation that progressively damages the gut lining. Current therapies focus on suppressing inflammation, but many patients relapse or require surgery. Restoring the integrity of the intestinal barrier, a process called mucosal healing, offers a promising alternative strategy for achieving sustained remission. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PLASMA-HEAL project investigates how antibody-producing immune cells, called plasma cells that accumulate during intestinal inflammation, regulate epithelial regeneration. Researchers will utilise organoid models, animal studies and spatial omics technologies in patient samples to determine how plasma cells interact with intestinal stem cells. The project is expected to uncover new therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease.
Objective
Disruption of the intestinal barrier can lead to microbiota translocation and uncontrolled immune activation against the commensal microbiota, a hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current therapies aim to suppress inflammation, but their effectiveness is limited. Consequently, many patients relapse or progress to surgical bowel resection, underscoring the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. A promising approach is to focus on mucosal healing, which restores barrier integrity and provides sustained remission independent of classic immunosuppression. Mucosal healing relies on the continuous proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) into all epithelial cell types. My host lab is at the forefront of this paradigm. Their recent work revealed a detrimental role of B cells in disrupting stromal–ISC crosstalk, essential for epithelial regeneration. Moreover, plasma cells (PCs)—the antibody-producing progeny of B cells—are emerging therapeutic targets in IBD, as certain populations increase during intestinal inflammation. However, whether PCs play a role in mucosal healing remains unknown. In PLASMA-HEAL, I will combine loss- and gain-of-function approaches, such as in vivo PC depletion and in vitro organoid co-cultures, to determine the role of PCs in intestinal healing. Using a unique prospective cohort of IBD patients and state-of-the-art spatial-omics technologies (spatial transcriptomics, metatranscriptomics, V(D)J, proteomics), I will translate these studies to the human setting. Thus, I will test the hypothesis that PCs critically regulate epithelial regeneration and mucosal healing in IBD. I aim to uncover novel mechanisms of PC–epithelial crosstalk with direct translational implications for IBD therapy. My ultimate goal is to provide fundamental insights into IBD pathogenesis and inform the development of therapies for sustained remission and resection-free survival.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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
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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-2025-PF
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171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
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