Project description
A bioprinted model of the human kidney
Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by drugs or viruses can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Currently, there is a lack of suitable and relevant in vitro models to study both AKI and CKD. The EU-funded BIRDIE project aims to address this limitation by developing a 3D in vitro human kidney tubulointerstitial (TI) model from primary human cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Scientists will employ bioprinting and organ-on-chip technologies to develop the TI model, which will closely resemble the physiology of the natural kidney. The BIRDIE model is expected to help study kidney-related diseases and to screen patient-specific therapies.
Objective
Eight hundred and fifty million people worldwide are currently affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is also the 11th leading cause of mortality worldwide. CKD can occur from a multitude of causes including diabetes and high-blood pressure. Moreover, recent clinical and experimental studies have shown that CKD is closely interconnected with acute kidney injury (AKI) as well. Currently available in vitro models show limited relevance to study AKI, especially drug- and virus- induced AKI, due to the poor functionality and relevance compared to a diseased human tissue. BIRDIE aims at developing three-dimensional (3D) in vitro human renal tubulointerstitium (TI) models to enable viral infection and nephrotoxicity studies while creating a robust platform to address other diseases and treatment innovations in the future. Two enabling technologies, bioprinting and organ-on-chip, will be combined to build a microphysiological relevant TI model. Primary human cells and induced pluripotent stem cells will be used to generate kidney models, and combined with the aforementioned techniques model envisioning a reliable screening platform for future patient specific therapies. Our ambition is to create a new 3D renal in vitro model allowing an unprecedented degree of mimicry and function compared to a human kidney. While developing the model focusing on the applications mentioned before, our goal is to make it broadly applicable to the multitude of kidney-related diseases.
Fields of science
- social sciencessociologydemographymortality
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologyorgan on a chip
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinenephrologykidney diseases
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
6200 MD Maastricht
Netherlands