PhD 3 Modelling the microbiome in human in vitro organoid platforms.

PhD Student: Ciara Hegarty

Principal supervisor: Dr Sinéad C. Corr

School/ Discipline: School of  Genetics and Microbiology/ Discipline of Microbiology

Co-supervisors: Dr Michael Monaghan (Sch. Engineering) and Dr Julie Renwick (Sch. Medicine) 

The current challenge in microbiome research lies in the absence of suitable models for dissecting mechanisms and causality. Our project aims to revolutionise this landscape by crafting advanced microbiome models on human in vitro organoid platforms, with a specific emphasis on establishing a cutting-edge gut microbiome platform. This endeavour involves seamlessly integrating organ-specific cells into meticulously engineered tissue micro-environments, employing state-of-the-art biomaterials and additive manufacturing processes. By harnessing bioreactor technologies, we will construct comprehensive models, providing a sophisticated framework to delve into the intricate mechanisms and causality within microbiome research. Our mission extends further to evaluate the microbiome's susceptibility to the resistome, gauging its repercussions on ecosystem stability within these pioneering platforms.

What are Organoids?

  • Organoids are three-dimensional cellular constructs that mimic the fundamental structure and operational mechanisms of the original organ

  • First established by the Clevers group, these miniature organ-like structures have revolutionized biomedical research and offer promising avenues for a wide range of applications such as disease modelling, personalised modelling and toxicology.

  • Specifically for this project our aim is to develop a gut organoid model to test the vulnerability of the microbiome to the resistome and ecosystem stability.

  • Intestinal or gut organoids were first created by Sato et al in 2009 and colon organoids specifically in 2011.