Our primary focus is to understand the role of cell metabolism in the regulation of the balance between the cell fate decisions in health and disease, in a 3D context. We employ 3D tissue models (spheroids, organoids and bioprints), advanced biosensors and multi-parameter fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).

By doing this, we aim at addressing the general challenges of microscopy-assisted tissue engineering, choosing the most appropriate matrices and producing physiologically relevant ‘tissue-on-a-chip’ platforms minimising the need for animal experimentation.

We develop and combine innovative biosensor-based approaches to visualize stem cell niche metabolism and oxygenation in intestinal and neural organoids, bone progenitor and tumour spheroids, and related microtissue models ex vivo and in vivo.

Our group also provides service, access and expertise in basic cell and tissue engineering and hypoxia research: mammalian cell culture, bioprinting and multi-parameter live cell fluorescence microscopies, including FLIM.

Lines of research

Within this research group, we focus on the following lines of research:

• O₂ and cell metabolism

• New tools for dynamic imaging of epithelial organoids

• Multi-parameter assessment physiological function in spheroids, bioprinted microtissues and in vivo

• Infrastructure and expertise support

• Imaging-assisted engineering of neural organoids

Collaborations

We are part of GGIG, CRIG MIspheroID, GATE, GLiM and collaborate with:

• Funcitonal Genomics Lab (Prof. S. Vergult)
• PBM, Polymer Biomaterials Group (Prof. S. Van Vlierberghe, Prof. P. Dubruel)
• VIB IRC (Prof. B. Lambrecht)
• Medical Cell Biology Research Group (Prof. J. van Hengel)
• LECR (Prof. O. De Wever)

• TU Graz, Austria (Prof. S. M. Borisov)
• The Monaghan Lab, Trinity College Dublin (Prof. M. Monaghan)
• Barroso lab, Albany Medical College, NY (Prof. M. Barroso)
• Niesner-Hauser lab at DRFZ (Prof. R. Niesner)
• EU+UK-wide Horizon MSCA-DN network FLIMagin3D (to start from 2023)

Publications