Development of a Microfluidic Gut-Brain Axis Chip

Overview

The gut microbiome refers to the collection of micro-organisms that are living symbiotically in the human or animal gastrointestinal tract (defined as the “microbiota”), their genetic material as well as the surrounding environmental habitat. It is now appreciated that the microbiome plays an important role in human health and diseases. Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease have been linked to dysregulation of the gut microbiota. However, it is difficult to study gut-brain axis using animal models due to inter-species differences. There is a need to develop human-specific experimental systems that emulate the gut microenvironment to functionally investigate how microbiome composition affects neuronal cells and function. This project aims to utilise microfluidic organs-on-chip technology to mimic cellular processes involved in gut-brain axis and perform pilot screen on drug candidate to modulate these interactions.

Research activities

• fabrication of a microfluidic coculture chip by conventional microfabrication or 3D printing
• culture and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cell lines e.g. Caco2 and neuronal cells
• characterisation of intestinal epithelial cells by immuno-fluorescence/confocal microscopy, RT-PCR, ELISA
• drug testing.

Outcomes

This project will establish a microfluidic gut-brain chip, which can measure changes in neuronal cell function in response to changes in the microbial activity on a gut epithelium.

Skills and experience

• experience in mammalian cell culture is beneficial but not necessary. However, you should have an interest to acquire these technical skills
• some working knowledge of microfluidic organs-on-chip and tissue engineering.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

• gut-brain axis
• microfluidic
• drug testing

Contact

Contact Professor Yi-Chin Toh yichin.toh@qut.edu.au for more information.