L. (Laura) Giordano

PhD Candidate
Pharmacology
l.giordano@uu.nl

My PhD focuses on the in vitro study of the gut-kidney axis in the context of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

 

Despite being considered for a long time only a disease of the kidneys, the frequent appearance of CKD alongside other comorbidities has highlighted an underlying complex pathophysiology that is thought to be vastly modulated by the bidirectional interactions of the gut–kidney crosstalk. In-depth ongoing studies on the gut microbiome and its role in homeostasis, are revealing how dysregulations within the gut can lead to complications in the kidneys and vice versa. The limitations of conventional in vitro techniques have however greatly hampered the study of organs crosstalk, but the recent advent of microphysiological systems (or organ-on-a-chip technology) has enabled to overcome such boundaries.

 

By using an organ-on-a-chip device developed in our lab, my research aims to characterize the bidirectional activity of the gut-kidney axis both morphologically and functionally and to determine the role of plasma and fecal microbiome from healthy vs CKD patients on the development and progression of the disease. 

 

This project is founded by the Horizon-2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie Action Strategy-CKD Consortium.

 

Check out our research at:

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