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/Y032497/1
• 负责人: Daniel St Johnston
• 金额: $ 33.22万
• 依托单位: University of Cambridge
• 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%2FY032497%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.

上皮细胞是一层相互连接的细胞，覆盖在我们身体和内脏的表面。它们形成物理屏障，保护我们的身体免受外部侮辱，并控制与外界的物质交换。为了执行这些功能，上皮细胞建立一个专门的顶端（顶部）交换表面，面向外部。上皮功能缺陷导致许多疾病，如囊性肾病、炎症性肠病和感染易感性。此外，上皮组织的丧失是侵袭性肿瘤的标志。SurfEx将解决两个紧迫的相互关联的问题，这些问题阻碍了对抗上皮疾病的进展。1)需要高技能的科学家，他们可以将小模型生物和细胞培养的基础研究与使用模拟人类上皮组织和生理学的先进3D培养模型的转化研究联系起来，以及2）需要提高我们对顶端交换表面如何形成以及在健康和疾病中发挥作用的理解。SurfEx汇集了来自8个欧洲国家的学术和私人合作伙伴，建立了一个多学科，跨部门的培训和研究计划，将研究上皮细胞如何形成功能性的顶端交换表面。SurfEx结合了从遗传学到材料科学、微加工和先进的3D细胞培养技术等领域。这提供了一个机会，培养博士生的实验方法和方法的独特组合，包括突破性的类器官和器官芯片技术。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，并为研究员提供深入了解生物医学行业研究和职业发展机会的翻译潜力。广泛的可转移技能的培训将使研究员成为创造性，批判性和自主性的专业人员。