Dynamic models for mesenchymal stem cells: a 3-D ex vivo culture system mapped to existing 2-D differentiation models

The major aspect of this work is to study a human mesenchymal stem cell micro-community, tuned for emulating the tooth and bone repair (the ’biology’); and at the same time to enable integration into microscopy platforms appropriate for high-content imaging (the technology challenge).

In the proposed project you will develop two/three/four dimensional ex vivo models that address mesenchymal progenitor biology. The overall aim is to obtain appropriate kinetic and phenotypic maps that allow us to understand the cell and molecular aspects of tissue and dentine regeneration; efforts into defining and embracing these models as we translate between them offers unique opportunities for applying systems biology strategies.

We believe that this is an under-developed and exploitable opportunity to use ex vivo modelling to replace live-animal work in tissue engineering with models that preserve the crucial link between matrix and mesenchymal cell function. The student will be part of a thriving environment with access to the latest microscopy platforms.

Our key collaborators based at Swansea University (for executing deep learning techniques for image analysis) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (for implementing measurement assurance) provides you with opportunities to be part of an international team, enabling you to shape their studentship experience and to work with the best in the business of measuring single cells.

For more information on this project, please see the following link: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/project/dynamic-models-for-mesenchymal-stem-cells-a-3-d-ex-vivo-culture-system-mapped-to-existing-2-d-differentiation-models