Advanced 3D Models for kidney disease, (premature and lifestyle) ageing and associated comorbidities

I aim to contribute to Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health) consortia focused on the interactions between environmental stressors, chronic disease progression, and healthy ageing, with a specific interest in kidney disease, premature ageing, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic decline. I am particularly motivated to support projects addressing the health impacts of climate-related exposures, pollution, and multi-morbidity, especially in vulnerable populations.

My expertise lies in developing advanced human-relevant in vitro models (NAMs) to uncover mechanistic pathways underlying kidney injury, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and systemic complications. My research focuses on how loss of kidney function accelerates biological ageing and contributes to multi-organ dysfunction, including kidney–gut, kidney–brain, and kidney–bone axes.

I bring translational and technological depth through:

– Development of humanized 3D renal cultures, kidney tubules, and organoids in microfluidic platforms (kidney-on-a-chip)

– Engineering of models that replicate key renal functions such as filtration, secretion, and absorption

– Mechanistic investigation of mitochondrial impairment, metabolic rewiring, and premature tissue ageing in kidney disease

– Integration of comorbidity and organ crosstalk models relevant to CKD-associated complications (intestine, brain, bone)

– Application of advanced biofabrication and 3D printing techniques to recreate physiologically relevant kidney microenvironments

I seek to join consortia that:

– Advance human-relevant mechanistic understanding of chronic diseases under environmental and societal pressures

– Use NAMs and organ-on-chip platforms to reduce reliance on animal models and improve translation to humans

– Address disease prevention, resilience, and adaptation in the context of climate stressors and cumulative exposures

– Focus on ageing biology, metabolism, and mitochondrial health as drivers of chronic disease progression

– Integrate multi-organ perspectives to tackle comorbidities and systemic complications

I am keen to contribute as a work package leader or partner responsible for NAM development, mechanistic validation, and functional readouts, particularly for kidney-specific endpoints and cross-organ interactions. My lab offers strong expertise in kidney microphysiological systems, organoid biology, microfluidics, and 3D biofabrication, supporting Horizon Europe projects targeting: