DC 10: Kidney on a chip for kidney mTORopathies research

Project part of Work Package 2

Objectives: DC10 will develop a modular, 3D human kidney model in the microfluidic platform OrganoPlate to mimic a kidney architecture and function. In this plate, two channels are separated by a hydrogel. One channel is populated with RPTECs or tubuloid-derived epithelium, the adjacent channels will be used for co-culture with kidney fibroblasts, endothelial and immune cells. This platform will be then used to model disease-kidney model-based readouts mimicking diseased kidney phenotypes suitable for high-throughput screening. We will then test and validate the effect of mediators and compounds on correcting the modelled kidney alterations present in mTORopathies.

Expected Results: Identify a variety of kidney injury-specific phenotypes. Selection of assays will be further optimized for high-throughput read-out(s) suitable for the identification of compounds modulating kidney mTORopathies.

Prospects of career development: Graduate of MENTOR project at Mimetas will be well-prepared to enter the workplace with an innovative and beyond state-of-the-art view on different aspects in biotechnology, advanced analytical technologies, industrial and academic research, and commercial enterprises that implement translational medical and innovative approaches.

Planned secondments: 3 months at KUL for patient-specific kidney on a chip. 3 months at Ukessen for evaluation of metabolic parameters.