Understanding drivers of disease progression in interstitial lung disease using spatial transcriptomics and complex in vitro models

Summary

ILDs are a group of poorly understood and progressive conditions of progressive lung parenchymal scarring thought to be triggered by repeated injury to the alveolar epithelium. Recent developments in in vivo modelling and transcriptomic analysis and are beginning to facilitate mechanistic studies to identify dysregulated pathways and cell-cell crosstalk with a view to developing new treatments that tackle early-stage disease.

Using samples from the Royal Papworth Hospital ILD cohort, spatial transcriptomic analysis will be undertaken on diagnostic biopsies, with particular emphasis on early stage disease, which is less well characterised. Bioinformatics training and analysis will be undertaken at GSK to identify key dysregulated pathways and cell-cell interactions for further investigation. 

We are particularly interested in the role of emerging cellular senescence but are agnostic to the discoveries that will be taken forward. Validation of key discoveries and further project development will be undertaken at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) using in vitro alveolar niche models, including co-culture and “in chip” models where appropriate.

This project forms part of the wider “CG-TIC” Cambridge University-GSK collaborative project (https://www.med.cam.ac.uk/cg-tic) on ILD mechanisms. The successful candidate will work closely alongside CG-TIC members of the at CIMR and other institutes and should expect to receive training in bioinformatics and a variety of cell biology techniques.

Project aims

This project aims to identify novel drivers of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and validate key findings using complex co-culture models of the alveolar niche.

Contact details

Jennifer Dickens - jac72@cam.ac.uk

Opportunities

This project is open to applicants who want to do a:

• PhD