SurfEx: Epithelial Exchange Surfaces - From organizing principles to novel culture models of the gatekeepers of the body

SurfEx：上皮交换表面 - 从组织原理到身体守门人的新颖文化模型

• 批准号: EP/Y031458/1
• 负责人: Martin Knight
• 金额: $ 33.22万
• 依托单位: Queen Mary University of London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY031458%2F1
• 关键词: SurfEx; Epithelial; Exchange; Surfaces; organizing

Epithelia are sheets of interconnected cells that cover the surfaces of our body and internal organs. They form physical barriers that protect our body from external insults and control the exchange of materials with the outside. To perform these functions, epithelial cells establish a specialized apical (top) exchange surface that faces the exterior. Defects in epithelial functioning contribute to many diseases, such as cystic kidney diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and susceptibility to infection. Moreover, loss of epithelial organization is a hallmark of invasive tumours. SurfEx will tackle two urgent interlinked problems that hamper progress in combatting epithelial diseases. 1) the need for highly skilled scientists who can bridge basic research in small model organisms and cell culture with translational research using advanced 3D culture models that mimic the organization and physiology of human epithelia, and 2) the need to improve our understanding of how the apical exchange surface is formed and functions in health and disease. SurfEx brings together academic and private partners from 8 European countries to establish a multidisciplinary, intersectoral training and research programme that will study how epithelial cells form a functional apical exchange surface. SurfEx unites fields ranging from genetics to materials science, microfabrication, and advanced 3D cell culture techniques. This provides an opportunity to train doctoral candidates in a unique combination of experimental approaches and methods, including breakthrough organoid and organ-on-chip technologies. Tight collaboration with non-academic partners will strengthen the technological base of different projects and provides the fellows with insights into the translation potential of the studies and career development opportunities in biomedical industry. Extensive training in transferable skills will round off the training of the fellows into creative, critical, and autonomous professionals.

上皮是覆盖我们身体和内部器官表面的相互连接细胞的薄片。它们形成物理障碍，可以保护我们的身体免受外部侮辱，并控制外部材料的交换。为了执行这些功能，上皮细胞建立了面对外部的专门顶端（顶部）交换表面。上皮功能的缺陷导致许多疾病，例如囊性肾脏疾病，炎症性肠病和感染易感性。此外，上皮组织的丧失是侵入性肿瘤的标志。 Surfex将解决两个紧急互联问题，以阻碍对抗上皮疾病的进展。 1）对可以使用高级3D培养模型来模仿人类上皮的组织和生理学的高级模型生物和细胞培养基础研究的高技能科学家的需求，以及2）需要提高我们对顶端交换表面的理解以及在健康和疾病中的作用。 Surfex汇集了来自8个欧洲国家 /地区的学术和私人合作伙伴，以建立一个多学科的跨部门培训和研究计划，该计划将研究上皮细胞如何形成功能性顶端交换表面。 Surfex团结了从遗传学到材料科学，微结合和先进的3D细胞培养技术的领域。这为培训博士候选者提供了一个独特的实验方法和方法，包括突破性的器官和芯片上的器官技术。与非学术合作伙伴的紧密合作将加强不同项目的技术基础，并为研究员提供有关生物医学行业研究和职业发展机会的翻译潜力的见解。对可转移技能的广泛培训将使研究员训练为创造性，批判性和自治专业人士进行培训。