Advanced human pluripotent stem cell kidney organoid model for investigating development and disease

Why did we fund this project?

This award aims to further develop a micro-organoid model of the kidney using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to replace the use of mice in kidney development and disease studies.

Current kidney organoid models lack macrophages which play a key role in the development of the fetal kidney to promote blood vessel development and kidney outflow. This limits their physiological relevance and uptake by the kidney research community. Professor Sue Kimber and colleagues will generate macrophages from hPSCs and incorporate them into kidney organoids, which they will then scale down to create “micro-organoids”. In collaboration with industrial partner CELLINK, a 3D bioprinting company, the kidney micro-organoids will be bioprinted, to increase reproducibility, and cultured under flow to increase physiological relevance. Sue will build confidence in the model and demonstrate its utility by performing detailed functional studies on the role of macrophages in human kidney development.

This award was made as part of the BBSRC/NC3Rs joint call for the development of next generation non-animal technologies (NATs).