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Liver Spatial Omics

Objective

The mammalian liver is a heterogeneous, yet highly structured organ, which performs diverse functions to maintain organismal homeostasis. Hepatocytes operate in repeating hexagonally shaped units termed lobules that are polarized by centripetal blood flow and morphogens. This polarized microenvironment facilitates optimal function by localizing specific processes to distinct lobule layers, a phenomenon known as ‘liver zonation’. While zonation of some key liver functions has been known for years, using spatially resolved single cell transcriptomics, we recently discovered that about 50% of liver genes are zonated. This surprisingly broad spatial heterogeneity raises a fundamental question - do hepatocytes form a uniform population that differs due to spatially graded inputs or are hepatocytes at different zones in fact distinct cell types?
In this proposal we will tackle this question by developing techniques for sorting massive amounts of hepatocytes from defined tissue coordinates at high spatial resolution using zonated surface markers, new zonated reporter mouse models and mRNA content. We will perform a deep and comprehensive profiling of the hepatocyte genome, methylome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome at each zone to characterize liver zonation at all relevant cellular scales. We will also develop an ex-vivo system to functionally characterize the response of hepatocytes from distinct zones to identical input stimuli and the ability of hepatocytes to inter-convert to hepatocytes with differing zonal identities. These experiments will be performed in different metabolic states and along a high fat diet. This project will uncover new features of liver zonation in health and disease and redefine the hepatocyte cell state. Our approach for spatially refined tissue omics can be extended to other structured mammalian organs, thus opening new avenues of research in Systems Biology of mammalian tissues.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG

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Host institution

WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 000 000,00
Address
HERZL STREET 234
7610001 Rehovot
Israel

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 000 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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