Understanding Immune Interactions in coeliac disease. 

Professor Paul Klenerman is the Truelove Chair of Gastroenterology at the University of Oxford and has been researching the immune system for the majority of his career.  
His previous work has identified that several types of cells in the gut are altered during coeliac disease which suggests that interactions between cells are altered too. This study will use spatial transcriptomics to look at interactions and the genetic activity of cells in the gut. 

They will look at cell interactions in coeliac patients before gluten challenge and then in the presence of gluten to see how interactions change when gluten is present. They will then compare interactions between active coeliac disease and both types of refractory coeliac disease. This will highlight any similarities or differences. You can learn more about refractory coeliac disease and the different types here. 

This research is important as it will help us to better understand the disease process in coeliac disease and a greater understanding could lead to ideas and targets for new potential treatments.

What is Spatial Transcriptomics?

Spatial transcriptomics is a method that allows scientists to map where gene activity occurs within a tissue sample. It also helps scientists to understand where certain cell types are located in different parts of the body and the level of gene activity. 
Think of it like a recipe. Individual cells are the individual ingredients. They each function on their own, but when they are combined, they must work together. Spatial transcriptomics looks at how all the ingredients are working together. 

Project Title: Understanding immune-parenchymal cell interactions in active and refractory coeliac disease through spatial analysis approaches. 

Awarded February 2023  

Research project commences in Autumn 2023 

Duration: 36 Months 

Grant Awarded: £250K