Objective Induced pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocytes (i-Heps) afford us the exciting possibility of redressing the growing shortage in liver transplantation tissue and heralding in a new era of patient specific drug and disease modelling. Clinical applications are restricted by their poor functionality in comparison to the gold standard – freshly isolated primary hepatocytes. Emerging evidence suggests the three dimensional environment surrounding a cell (the niche) critically influences cellular function. The objective of ENHANCE is to identify relevant factors from the extracellular niche which promote i-Hep function in 3D and the mechanisms by which they achieve this. This new knowledge will be used to generate functionally optimized i-Hep constructs suitable for clinical transplantation, with proof of concept studies being performed in rodent models of liver failure. This European Fellowship at Kings College London will provide the researcher with advanced training in iPSC technology, i-Hep generation, 2D niche component screening, 3D cell engineering and animal transplantation. A secondment to SME DefiniGEN Ltd will evaluate the feasibility of transfer to a commercial i-Hep production platform as a critical step towards clinical trials. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinehepatologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantationmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinetoxicology Keywords Liver transplantation induced pluripotent stem cells tissue engineering Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator KING'S COLLEGE LONDON Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address Strand WC2R 2LS London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
