Project description
Building blood from stem cells
One obstacle in blood disease therapy is the lack of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are the ancestors of all blood cells. They are produced in embryonic development in a highly complex manner. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BVO project sheds light on this with the help of blood vessel organoids (BVOs) produced from human induced pluripotent stem cells. These in vitro models mimic the body’s blood-producing environment and will allow scientists to investigate how specialised cells develop into HSCs. By mimicking blood flow and observing cell development in real time, the study could lay the groundwork for lab-based production of HSCs.
Objective
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), responsible for generating all blood cells, are produced during embryonic development in the aorta of the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region. This process involves specialized endothelial cells (ECs), called hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs), undergoing an endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT), which leads to the formation of HSC precursors (pre-HSCs) that mature into functional HSCs. However, the regulation of HEC specification and EHT remains poorly understood. The suportive microenvironment in the AGM includes various factors like growth factors, cell interactions, and biomechanical forces, such as shear stress induced by blood flow, all of which are crucial for HSC generation. In vitro production of HSCs from pluripotent stem cells has been challenging, posing a barrier to addressing the shortage of HSCs for clinical treatment of blood-related diseases. Blood vessel organoids (BVOs), derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offer a promising model for studying HEC specification and EHT, as they consist of a network of arterial ECs. The first objective of this proposal is to develop a modified protocol for BVO culture to induce the formation of HECs, EHT, and the generation of (pre-)HSCs from human iPSCs. Immunostaining, flow cytometry, single-cell RNA-sequencing, and functional hematopoietic assays will be used to evaluate the potential of human (h)BVOs. Data on hBVOs will be compared with published data from human AGM populations. The second objective is to study the impact of shear stress on EHT by using a new RUNX1-GFP reporter iPSC line and time-lapse confocal microscopy. These hBVOs will be cultured in a microfluidic system to simulate pulsatile blood flow, mimicking in vivo conditions in the AGM. This approach will help develop animal-free, high-throughput models for studying and modulating endothelial and hematopoietic production in vitro, with potential applications for future clinical therapies.
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.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine angiology vascular diseases
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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1011 JV AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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