Development of complex-human-based organ models

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Animal models, excised human tissue, and 2D cell cultures are the gold standards in basic research to investigate fundamental physiological processes of the human body. As such, especially animal models have been beyond discussion for several decades. Recently however, increasing criticism evolved from scientific concerns and increasing awareness that distinct inter-species related differences with regard to anatomy, physiology and immunology limit the predictive power of animals for the human situation. Although excised human tissue and 2D cell culture are human-based, these lack the critical complexity and viability to more complex questions in fundamental research. Therefore, the short-term objectives of the proposed 5-year program of research are (1) the generation of complex models of the human skin and the bronchial epithelium. More specifically, we will work on the implementation of blood vessels and immune cells. (2) These models will be implemented into a dynamic perfusion platform which enables a long-term co-cultivation and ultimately to emulate physiological processes of the human body. Thirdly (3), we will develop human-based organ models of adipose and liver tissue. The developed organ models will be comprehensively characterized and compared to the gold standard which is human organ functions. These four organs (skin, lung, fatty tissue and liver) have been chosen since skin and lung tissue is closely connected, but very little is understood about the skin-lung crosstalk. Furthermore, both organs serve as entry routes for many substances and a co-cultivation of them with deep (fatty tissue)- and metabolizing organs (liver) will allow to investigate interactions and pathways of foreign substances in the human body in more detail. The long-term of the proposed program of research is the development of complex human-based organ models which can be combined in a human-like setting aiming for models emulating human physiology as closely as possible. In a long-term view, these models may revolutionize fundamental research in human. My proposed program of research will enable my research group to move forward in a relatively young but fast evolving field of human-based organ models and will significantly advance the field tissue engineering. Furthermore, it will allow me to train Although human-based organ models are a hot topic world-wide, so far, only few Canadian labs are working on the development of complex human-based organ models. Hence, the proposed research program will put Canada at the forefront of this exciting and cutting-edge research.