Meritxell Huch Explained

Meritxell Huch Ortega
Birth Place:Barcelona
Workplaces:Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
University of Cambridge
Centre for Genomic Regulation
Hubrecht Institute
Alma Mater:University of Barcelona
Thesis Title:Estudi de l'eficàcia antitumoral d'adenovirus redirigits a receptors FGFR i valoració de la selectivitat dels virus AdCK7pLuc i AduPARpLuc en models de càncer de pancrees
Thesis Url:https://worldcat.org/en/title/892320371
Thesis Year:2007

Meritxell Huch (Barcelona, 1978)[1] is a stem cell biologist and director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. Her research considers tissue regeneration and the development of tissue-specific disease models for human organs. She was awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant in 2023.

Early life and education

After college Huch decided she wanted to work in science because of a desire to understand how aspirin works.[2] Huch was an undergraduate student at the University of Barcelona, where she studied pharmaceutical sciences.[3] She remained there for her graduate studies, earning a Master in 2003 and doctorate in 2007. She completed her PhD research in the Centre for Genomic Regulation, where she worked alongside Cristina Fillat.[4] After completing her doctoral research she spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow before moring to the Hubrecht Institute on a Marie Curie Fellowship. In Utrecht she worked in the laboratory of Hans Clevers, where she isolated the stem cells responsible for the turnover of the adult stomach.[5]

Research and career

Huch was appointed a Sir Henry Dale Research Fellow at the Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge.[6] She held a joint position with The Wellcome Trust and the Department of Physiology. After five years in Cambridge, Huch joined the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics as one of the first members of the Lise Meitner Excellence Program.[7] She was appointed to the board of directors in 2022.[8]

Inflammation and tissue damage are associated with chronic liver disease and cancer. Her group have extensively developed human organoid models to study the molecular basis of adult tissue regeneration.[9] [10] Having identified stem cells responsible for the rapid turnover of the adult stomach, Huch showed that they could be maintained in culture. Next she moved on to liver cells, demonstrating the replicative potential of progenitor cells during regeneration and showing they are promising candidates for future therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.[11] Her research has the potential to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.[12] [13]

Awards and honours

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mpg.de/18769168/molecular-cell-biology-genetics-huch Huch, Meritxell | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
  2. Web site: Meritxell Huch, PhD Organoid Profiles STEMCELL Technologies . 2023-02-05 . www.stemcell.com.
  3. Web site: 2016 . Cell scientist to watch – Meritxell Huch . 2023-02-05 . journals.biologists.com.
  4. Web site: Estudi de l'eficàcia antitumoral d'adenovirus redirigits a receptors FGFR i valoració de la selectivitat dels virus AdCK7pLuc i AduPARpLuc en models de càncer de pancrees WorldCat.org . 2023-02-05 . www.worldcat.org . en.
  5. Web site: BINDER Innovation Prize for Meri Huch . 2023-02-05 . MPI-CBG . 26 September 2019 . en-US.
  6. Web site: Group Leader . 2023-02-05 . MPI-CBG . en-US.
  7. Web site: Introducing StemJournal Associate Editor: Meritxell Huch, PhD . 2023-02-05 . stemjnl.org . en.
  8. Web site: Spanish scientist investigates liver development, regeneration and disease. . 2023-02-05 . nachrichten.idw-online.de . de-DE.
  9. Web site: Research Focus . 2023-02-05 . MPI-CBG . en-US.
  10. Web site: Inchingolo . Dr R. . 2018-02-28 . The body in miniature - organoid research at Meritxell Huch's lab . 2023-02-05 . www.pdn.cam.ac.uk . en.
  11. Broutier . Laura . Andersson-Rolf . Amanda . Hindley . Christopher J. . Boj . Sylvia F. . Clevers . Hans . Koo . Bon-Kyoung . Huch . Meritxell . September 2016 . Culture and establishment of self-renewing human and mouse adult liver and pancreas 3D organoids and their genetic manipulation . Nature Protocols . 11 . 9 . 1724–1743 . 10.1038/nprot.2016.097 . 1750-2799 . 27560176. 33223450 .
  12. Web site: 2014-02-26 . Mini-livers show promise to reduce animal use in science . 2023-02-05 . University of Cambridge . en.
  13. Web site: Mini-livers show promise to reduce animal use in science NC3Rs . 2023-02-05 . www.nc3rs.org.uk.
  14. Web site: Thomas . Glynn . 2016-11-13 . Dr Meritxell Huch awarded Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence 2015-2016 . 2023-02-05 . For staff . en.
  15. Web site: Dr. Meritxell Huch - Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences - HMA . 2023-02-05 . hmaward.org.ae.
  16. Web site: Administrator . 2017-12-13 . Meritxell Huch awarded the Women in Cell Biology Early Career Medal . 2023-02-05 . www.stemcells.cam.ac.uk . en.
  17. Web site: 2018 . WICB Medal Winner 2018: Meritxell Huch .
  18. Web site: Cambridge Stem Cell News Issue 15 by University of Cambridge - Issuu . 2023-02-05 . issuu.com . 20 December 2018 . en.
  19. Web site: Find people in the EMBO Communities . 2023-02-05 . people.embo.org.
  20. Web site: German Stem Cell Network awards the GSCN 2022 Hilde Mangold Award to Meritxell Huch . 2023-02-05 . MPI-CBG . 19 September 2022 . en-US.
  21. Web site: Two ERC Consolidator Grants . 2023-02-05 . MPI-CBG . 31 January 2023 . en-US.
  22. Web site: Winners Announcement: Otto Bayer Award and Early Excellence in Science Awards 2024 . 2024-12-04 . Bayer Foundation . en.

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