Innovating Works

GHOSTS

Financiado
Genetically enhanced optically superior tissues GHOSTS
Most biological tissues are optically opaque, largely precluding access by light microscopy. In stark contrast, some living tissues and organisms are highly transparent. Examples include many deep-sea fish, your retina, and cells... Most biological tissues are optically opaque, largely precluding access by light microscopy. In stark contrast, some living tissues and organisms are highly transparent. Examples include many deep-sea fish, your retina, and cells that we exposed to directed evolution. Here we propose to uncover the genetic basis of tissue transparency, such that living cells and tissue cultures can be optically cleared by precision genetics. For this we will combine insights into origins of retina transparency, and a set of unique methods, to answer the question how genetically cells become more transparent during directed evolution. Specifically, we will use a three-fold approach to find transparency genes that do not compromise cellular integrity. For this we will use i) directed evolution towards transparency while co-selecting for cell fitness, ii) extensive phenotyping of transparent cells, both optically and functionally, and iii) use of transcriptomics to rule out stressed cells, and those that deviate too much from wildtype gene expression profiles. Knowing about physiological transparency genes will allow unprecedented insights into living tissues. If model tissues in the lab were just 1% as transparent as some glass-like fish found in the deep sea, optical microscopes could unleash their full potential, and enable high resolution views into developmental processes in their native environment. We see further transformative potential especially in the fields of organotypic tissue models, functional brain imaging, as well as pharmaceutical screens in 3D tissue cultures. ver más
31/05/2026
KIT
1M€
Duración del proyecto: 78 meses Fecha Inicio: 2019-11-18
Fecha Fin: 2026-05-31

Línea de financiación: concedida

El organismo H2020 notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2019-11-18
Línea de financiación objetivo El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
ERC-2019-STG: ERC Starting Grant
Cerrada hace 6 años
Presupuesto El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a 1M€
Líder del proyecto
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
Perfil tecnológico TRL 4-5