Major new funding for UCL Cystic Fibrosis research centre announced

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has announced £1.4m co-funding for two new Strategic Research Centres. One of the recipients is a team led by Dr Paola Vergani in the Division of Biosciences. SRCs are virtual centres of excellence supporting scientists and other specialists from around the world to collaborate on addressing specific issues arising from cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations that impair the CFTR anion channel. We know that the conduction of chloride ions is physiologically important in the lungs, but much less is known about CFTR’s role in bicarbonate movement. This is true not only in the airways, but also in the intestine, pancreatic and biliary ducts. In the UCL-led “Restoring the Fizz” SRC, five international laboratories will work together to investigate bicarbonate flow in different organs. The aim is to better understand the processes at the root of various cystic fibrosis disease manifestations to inform the development of better therapies.

Image: Anion channels are not as selective as cation channels. CFTR, discriminates poorly between bicarbonate (left, 0.23 nm) and chloride (right, 0.18 nm) and provides a pathway through which both anions can cross the cell membrane. The trace in white shows the tiny currents carried by chloride ions moving through a single wild-type CFTR channel: the gate toggles between an open (current is at the higher level) and a closed (current is at baseline) position.

Further Information

• UCL Cystic Fibrosis Bicarbonate Centre 
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust - Restoring the Fizz Strategic Centre
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust announcement about new Strategic Research Centres
• Dr Paola Vergani - staff profile
• Dr Guy Moss - staff profile
• Help Us Fundraise! 

Contact Information:

• Paola Vergani p.vergani@ucl.ac.uk
• Guy Moss g.moss@ucl.ac.uk