Understanding and modulating liver epithelium and stroma functionality in MASLD (A06)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 535081457

We aim to gain mechanistic understanding of the impact of metabolic injury to the crosstalk between hepatocytes and neighbouring stromal niche (hepatic stellate cells, HSCs). For that we will first generate co-culture organoid models of hepatocytes and HSCs. Then, we will use these as a discovery tool to understand the cellular, genetic and/or epigenetic or metabolic changes occurring to liver cells and their hepatocyte-stroma interactions upon lipid intracellular accumulation driven by either genetic mutations or by exogenous fat exposure.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 412: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Translating mechanisms to tailored therapeutic concepts
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Meritxell Huch