The Open University has a strong reputation in the development and use of advanced 3D cell culture model systems for neuroscience and immunology research. Using tissue engineering technology, these models have facilitated research that would not have been possible previously, in particular, when studying damage and repair. Cells in traditional cultures often fail to adopt phenotypes and responses characteristic of their behaviour in vivo, whilst in animal models the dynamic environment and complex interactions between cells often make it difficult to isolate a specific feature under investigation or to monitor cellular events continuously. Research in this area at the OU has yielded a range of 3D co-culture systems for neuroscience research, in particular for modelling the peripheral nerve repair environment, the response of astrocytes to CNS damage, myelination in the CNS and the PNS and neuronal guidance. A three-dimensional co-culture system in which adipocytes and lymph node cells can be grown together in a way that mimics the internal environment has also been developed for studying molecular aspects of the immune response.
Research in this area is highly interdisciplinary and researchers at the OU have been involved in various national and international networks and collaborations for many years (we hosted the successful British Tissue Engineering Network meeting “
Tissue Engineered 3D Culture Models” in 2006). For more details see the research pages of
James Phillips,
Jon Golding,
Jane Loughlin,
Hilary MacQueen and
Emma East.
