DEVELOPING A MULTIPLEXED HUMAN BRAIN-ON-A-CHIP PLATFORM FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Description

Within the framework of reducing animal experimentation, research laboratories and pharmaceutical industries are looking for alternative in vitro models that faithfully recapitulate the physiological in vivo context. This long-sought endeavor has led to the spectacular development of organ-on-chip technologies in the last years.

Organ-on-chips organize the various cellular components of a given tissue using physical and chemical constraints. However, current systems do not adapt to pharmaceutical and preclinical use because they only support single chip analyses. It is therefore time to develop autonomous multiplexed systems allowing the standardized analysis of several devices in parallel.

The goal of the present project is to characterize and challenge an innovative multiplexed microfluidic system using human-derived neuronal progenitors in healthy and diseased conditions.

This work is part of a large consortium gathering neuroscientists at INT and INP (Marseille), physicists at IES (Montpellier) and private companies, including Fluigent (Paris) and Ateka Therapeutics (Basel).

Our methodology combines state of the art brain-on-a-chip devices, microfluidics, IPSC cultures, and live videomicroscopy.

Profil recherché

We are looking for a motivated Master 2 student with a background in neuroscience and/or bioengineering and with a fair understanding of cell biology. Previous experience with cell cultures, IPSCs, videomicroscopy or microfluidic fabrication would be a plus but is not mandatory.

The candidate will be closely supervised by the PI and an engineer in a highly collaborative environment.

Établissement d'accueil

The Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT) is an academic research institute located in downtown Marseille on the medical campus of la Timone at Aix-Marseille Univ. The 4500 m2 building is currently home to 12 research teams grouped around 4 major neuroscience disciplines: Cellular Neurobiology, Neurophysiology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Cognitive Neuroscience. The INT also offers several experimental platforms, including rodent and primate facility, microelectronics fabrication, imaging and photonics facility, virus production platform, and a microfluidic platform.

The SONIC team gathers 10 researchers, engineers/technicians, and students. By focusing on the plasticity of cognitive networks during childhood and adulthood, the laboratory benefits from in vitro (brain-on-chip, subcellular dynamics) and in vivo (behavior, epigenetics) expertise.

The project will be conducted at the NeuroTech Center (Dir. M Cazorla), and the candidate will closely interact with this community. The NeuroTech center is dedicated to technological innovation for Neuroscience, benefiting from the total renovation of 400 m2 of experimental laboratories and technical platforms (including a L2 and L3-grade laboratory). The NeuroTech Center currently federates over 10 research teams and technical facilities specialized in neuroscience, bioengineering, microelectronics, optics, biomechanics, computation and photonics.