Speaker
Description
Natural background radiation (NBR) has been a constant environmental force throughout the evolution of life, yet its contribution to normal human tissue function remains poorly understood. The REPAIR project, located 2 km underground at SNOLAB, provides a unique ultra-low radiation environment where we can investigate how biological systems respond when this longstanding environmental signal is removed.
Previous research from our group has demonstrated that sub-NBR conditions significantly impact biological systems across scales. In whole-organism models, lake whitefish embryos raised underground exhibited a significant increase in body length and weight, highlighting the unique developmental impacts of the deep-underground environment. Furthermore, recent studies using the CGL1 human hybrid model revealed that prolonged sub-NBR exposure significantly increases alkaline phosphatase activity, a key marker of neoplastic transformation, suggesting NBR may play a regulatory role in suppressing carcinogenesis and maintaining genomic stability.
To determine whether these effects extend to complex human tissues, this project will establish a three-dimensional human intestinal organoid model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), bridging the gap between conventional cell culture systems and human physiology. We will differentiate iPSCs into self-organizing intestinal epithelium and culture them under three conditions: standard surface controls, underground controls, and a specialized ultra-low radiation (sub-NBR) environment at SNOLAB. Our multi-omic approach evaluates how "radiation hunger" impacts developmental signaling, oxidative balance, and epithelial barrier function. By measuring differentiation rates, transcriptomic responses, and real-time organoid growth dynamics, we aim to determine whether complex tissue architecture increases sensitivity, or promotes resilience, to radiation deprivation. This work challenges traditional dose-response models and explores the possibility that natural radiation may be required to support optimal human health.