Personalized Foetal Organoids for Severity Prediction in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

• Applicant: Dr. Carolin Riemer
• Subject Area: General and Visceral Surgery ; Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 575551032

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a severe developmental anomaly with complex pathophysiology and a persistently imprecise outcome prediction. Building on recent breakthroughs in patient-derived organoid technology pioneered by Doctor Gerli and Professor De Coppi's laboratories at UCL, this project aims to significantly advance personalised prognostication and understanding of CDH. Leveraging a unique cohort of human amniotic fluid-derived lung organoids derived from CDH patients, paired with their corresponding comprehensive clinical data, the project will systematically investigate and characterise direct correlations between in vitro organoid characteristics and the diverse clinical outcomes suffered by the patients. This crucial correlative analysis, bridging cutting-edge organoid modelling with clinical reality, will define novel individualised biomarkers, enable more precise patient counselling and stratification, guiding personalised antenatal interventions (i.e., FETO), and ultimately lead to improved long-term outcomes for affected children.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Paolo De Coppi