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Decoding the laws of human primordial germ cell-like cell development.

Project description

Advanced models of human germ cell development

Human primordial germ cells are the earliest cells that give rise to sperm and eggs, making them essential for fertility, reproduction and genetic inheritance. Understanding how these cells form and progress in early development remains difficult because current laboratory models are inefficient and often depend on scarce embryonic material. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GERMFIT project will develop an improved method to generate primordial germ cell-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be created from adult tissues. Researchers will identify the most developmentally competent in vitro-derived germ cells using advanced single-cell genomic tools. The work could transform studies of infertility, early development and reproductive health.

Objective

Investigating the developmental 'black box' of early human primordial germ cell (hPGC) development has been hindered by inefficient model systems that do not recapitulate in vivo developmental tempo, and that are overly reliant on the use of human embryonic material. This project will develop a new specification and culture protocol for hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) that uses human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in lieu of embryonic material, that is efficient and scalable, and that better recapitulates in vivo development. I intend to identify, isolate and characterise a subpopulation of hPGCLCs that are most developmentally competent using my experience with state of the art low-input methylation and transcriptome sequencing (scM&T-seq) approaches, coupled with an innovative new PGC specification and co-culture system pioneered by the host lab.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Net EU contribution
€ 252 180,00
Address
NOBELS VAG 5
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
No data