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

上皮是覆盖在我们身体和内脏表面的相互连接的细胞片。它们形成物理屏障，保护我们的身体免受外界的侮辱，并控制与外界的物质交换。为了执行这些功能，上皮细胞建立了一个面向外部的特殊的顶端(顶部)交换面。上皮功能缺陷会导致许多疾病，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袭性肿瘤的一个标志。SurfEx将解决两个紧迫的相互关联的问题，这两个问题阻碍了抗击上皮疾病的进展。1)需要高技能的科学家，能够将小型模型生物和细胞培养的基础研究与使用先进的3D培养模型模拟人类上皮细胞的组织和生理学的转化研究联系起来；2)需要提高我们对根尖交换面如何形成以及在健康和疾病中发挥作用的理解。SurfEx将来自8个欧洲国家的学术和私人合作伙伴聚集在一起，建立一个多学科、跨部门的培训和研究方案，研究上皮细胞如何形成功能性根尖交换表面。SurfEx联合了从遗传学到材料科学、微制造和先进的3D细胞培养技术等领域。这为博士生提供了一种独特的实验途径和方法组合的培训机会，包括突破性的有机化合物和芯片上器官技术。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，并为研究员提供对生物医药行业研究的翻译潜力和职业发展机会的见解。广泛的可转让技能培训将使学员成为具有创造性、批判性和自主性的专业人员。

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.