Project title: Inside the Gut: A Microfluidic Platform for C. difficile Research
Project No.: lzp-2025/1-0155
Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028
Project costs: 300 000,00 EUR
Principal Investigator: Dr. biol. Karīna Narbute
Project summary:
Given the increasing development of morbidity and mortality in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), global antibiotic resistance problems and limited alternatives to CDI prevention, it is important to identify the causes of the CDI and find new avenues to fight this infection. Unfortunately, the most common platform used in CDI research are animal models, while available in vitro models fail to ensure the viability of gut microbiota. Therefore, new in vitro model is needed for CDI testing in the gut-on-chip (GoC) model in the presence of full microbiota, as this, compared to classic animal models, provides better process control, human cell use, improved microbiota environmental simulation, reduced animal use and the ability to maintain complex and stable microbial colonies, making them a valuable tool for understanding CDI manifestation causes and developing new treatments. The aim of this project is to create a GoC microfluidic model in coculture with full gut microbiota to test the development of CDI by performing the following tasks: Create a GOC model using mucus-producing cells to model intestinal epithelium, isolate and characterize microbiota samples, and evaluate CDI effects in the GOC and microbiota model before and after antibiotic treatment is initiated. The expected results include an understanding of the role of gut microbiota composition in CDI manifestation and a functional in vitro model for further CDI research and development of therapeutic solutions.
Information published 05.01.2026.
Progress of the project:
1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026
At the start of the project, a project kick-off meeting was successfully organized, bringing together all researchers and staff involved in the project. During the meeting, the project objectives, key tasks, and collaboration principles were clarified, ensuring a shared understanding of the planned workflow and overall direction.
A detailed project implementation and time-tracking plan has been developed, covering the schedule of main activities, the distribution of responsibilities, and mechanisms for monitoring progress. Initial experiments have also been planned, with methodologies and required resources defined. In addition, the necessary reagents and raw materials have been procured in a timely manner to ensure the continuity of the research process.
Furthermore, a data management plan has been established, outlining the principles for data collection, storage, processing, and security. A system for the coding and identification of biological samples has also been developed, ensuring compliance with data protection requirements and research ethics standards.
Information published 31.03.2026.