The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in our immune system by maintaining tissues healthy, for example by regulating the immune response to pathogens. Lymphatic dysfunction underlies many diseases, and could determine the effectiveness of therapies, whether drug or stem-cell based. Yet, in the new generation of in-vitro organ models used to study the effect of drugs and therapies, the lymphatic system and the immune cells they transport are notably absent. Members of this consortium are already studying the effects of drugs and mechanisms of disease on miniature tissue OoC models of heart, skin and gut but will now supplement these three existing OoC models with lymphatic and immune systems from stem cells.
Research in LymphChip is spread over three main Themes:
Theme 1 – Fit-for-purpose technologies.
Theme 2 – hiPSC-derived tissue-specific macrophages and lymphatic endothelial cells.