Understanding Interactions Between Gut Epithelial Stem Cells And Neurons

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the interaction between gut neurons and the epithelial stem cell compartment, as well as the relationship between age-related loss of enteric neurons and changes in gut epithelial stem cells. This project will include novel co-culturing of organoids and enteric neurospheres, which will identify mechanisms by which nerves influence the epithelia. The outcome of the project will be a better understanding of the biology of the body’s most highly proliferative, long-lived stem cells, intestinal epithelial stem cells. This could have significant long term impact on the quality of life in an ageing population.