Characterization of neuro-immune interactions using an IPSC-derived in vitro myenteric plexus

The aim of this PhD proposal is to develop an in vitro culture recreating the complex neuro-immune interactions present in the NA-MF/ENS niche. Such system will shed new light on both understanding the signals that imprint macrophages towards the NA-MF phenotype and identifying the mediators contributing to neuronal health and survival. Moreover, such culture will be adapted to develop a screening platform where the most promising targets identified by single cell technologies experiments can be assessed for their functional relevance.