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If the intestinal epithelium were unraveled it would be a one-cell-thick layer with enough surface area to cover a tennis court. This thin layer selectively absorbs nutrients while repelling toxins and pathogens. Because it’s a dirty job, the entire epithelium is shed and replenished continuously (much like our skin) with the whole tissue replaced every few days. High exposure to noxious substances coupled with high rates of proliferation make this epithelial layer susceptible to both cancer and inflammatory disease. Intestinal diseases are among the most prevalent maladies in our society.
Our Aresty project is to join a small team investigating intestinal stem cells. There are many conditions which cause stem cells to be lost, with lethal consequences. Answering why and how stem cell loss occurs will help us understand what makes stem cells “tick”. This is of critical importance, as stem cells maintain normal cell balance in the intestine; it has recently been shown that stem cells are the founding cells for colorectal cancer. By the time Aresty research period is ongoing, we will also have cancer-related projects available, with the goal of understanding the relationship between normal stem cells and cancer..
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