About

The Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (#SIAF) is an associated research institute of the University of Zurich, and a member of Life Sciences Zurich Graduate School and Academia Raetica. It is performing front academic and translational research in collaboration with universities, research institutes, science academies, the pharma industry, and regulatory authorities on the prevention and treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases, asthma and respiratory infections, epithelial barriers, microbiome, metabolomics, antigen-specific immune response with a focus on human immunology and precision medicine.

Role in the project

SIAF will conduct research under WP 4. Cell culture models and lung organoids will be used to assess the toxic and barrier-damaging effects of indoor air pollutants on the lungs. Airway organoids will be used to analyze critically dose-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory balance at the epithelial barrier, including tissue healing, survival factors to noxious high doses, toxic thresholds, and remodeling. For these purposes single-cell sequencing, multiplex cytokine analyses by proximity extension assay and visium spatial imaging, confocal staining, and FITC-dextran flux will be performed.

Cezmi A.Akdis | Professor, Director of SIAF, MD
At SIAF, we seek to elucidate the effect of various air pollutants on human airway mucosa using primary bronchial epithelial cell-derived airway organoids. We will use airway organoids to analyse critically dose-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory balance at the epithelial barrier, including tissue healing, survival factors to noxious high doses, toxic thresholds and remodelling.

Mubeccel Akdis | Professor, Head of Immune regulation group at SIAF, MD
At SIAF, we seek to elucidate the effect of various air pollutants on human airway mucosa using primary bronchial epithelial cell-derived airway organoids. We will use airway organoids to analyse critically dose-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory balance at the epithelial barrier, including tissue healing, survival factors to noxious high doses, toxic thresholds and remodelling.

Yagiz Pat | Postdoctoral scientist
At SIAF, we seek to elucidate the effect of various air pollutants on human airway mucosa using primary bronchial epithelial cell-derived airway organoids. We will use airway organoids to analyse critically dose-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory balance at the epithelial barrier, including tissue healing, survival factors to noxious high doses, toxic thresholds and remodelling.

Juan Felipe Lopez Crespo | PhD candidate
At SIAF, we seek to elucidate the effect of various air pollutants on human airway mucosa using primary bronchial epithelial cell-derived airway organoids. We will use airway organoids to analyse critically dose-dependent pro- and anti-inflammatory balance at the epithelial barrier, including tissue healing, survival factors to noxious high doses, toxic thresholds and remodelling.