Next-generation pulmonary 3D models and to unravel the role of complex immune-structural cell interactions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

No cure currently exists for COPD, which affects 2.6million Canadians and include airway-scarring and destruction of the airspaces due to chronic cigarette smoking. In the lungs, the airways are lined with a structural-cell layer, called an epithelium, which much like our skin, protects the lung from inhaled particles including cigarette smoke. The epithelium communicates with other lung structural cells called fibroblasts to help repair the airway when it is damaged. However, we do not know how the epithelium and fibroblasts interact with immune cells which are responsible for the chronic inflammation that occurs in COPD. In this project, a 3D bioprinter will be used to make artificial lung tissue that closely resembles the real lung environment using epithelial cells, fibroblasts and immune cells from COPD patients and healthy control subjects. This artificial tissue will help understand how immune-structural-cell-interaction cause inflammation and scarring in COPD and possibly identify new therapeutic targets.

Faculty Supervisor:

Emmanuel Twumasi Osei

Student:

Partner:

Providence Health Care

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program: