Every few days, your intestine builds a completely new inner lining. This remarkable process is driven by stem cells hidden deep within the tissue, guided by molecular signals that tell them when to grow and mature. We study how these signals maintain a healthy intestine and how their disruption may contribute to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
reNEW research
Our laboratory uses fluorescent reporter mice that make normally invisible molecular signals visible. Using advanced microscopy, we capture colourful images that reveal where these signals are active in the intestine. This allows us to study how stem cells maintain healthy tissue and to compare these processes with what happens during disease.
Image description
Healthy mouse colon crypts glow with fluorescent signals that reveal tissue renewal and hidden cellular activity.
Credits
Lingbing Zhang, PhD student, Jensen lab, reNEW Copenhagen.
