Project description
Organ 3D printing for liver regenerative medicine
Liver diseases account for 2 million deaths worldwide every year. While liver transplantation is the most effective way to restore normal functions for various diseases including acute liver failure or liver malignancies, less than 10 % of global transplantation needs are currently met. This EU-funded ORGANTRANS project aims to replace liver transplantation for end-stage liver failure patients through the development of a liver tissue 3D printing platform. The project will cover the entire development cycle from cell source and tissue engineering through the trials allowing for early adoption of its results in clinical practice. Importantly, this research will create novel technologies that can be applied to other organ systems in regenerative medicine.
Objective
End-stage liver failure is a major healthcare challenge. Liver diseases account for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Liver transplantation is the most effective way to re-establish a liver with normal functions for various diseases including acute liver failure or liver malignancies. Currently, less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met and the gap between patients on transplant waiting lists and available donor organs is steadily increasing.
ORGANTRANS proposes a disruptive alternative to donor organs for patients with chronic or end-stage liver diseases who have still to isolate autologous liver stem cells. Driven by a need of leading European transplant centers, ORGANTRANS will tackle current obstacles for liver regenerative medicine by combining advanced know-how in cell biology, biomaterials, bioengineering, automation, standardization and clinical translation.
ORGANTRANS will develop a liver tissue printing platform that will be shortly deployed under the “compassionate use exemption” by three leading European transplant centers belonging to the consortium or the External Advisory Board. ORGANTRANS will not only deliver an ATMP, but also platform technologies that can be scaled to other organ systems, as organoid technology is one of the largest parts of regenerative medicine. The project covers the entire value chain (from cell source, tissue engineering, bioprinting, post-processing to testing) allowing for early adoption of its results (product & process) in clinical practice. The platform will first be scaled to Europe and then to the rest of the world.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologytissue engineering
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinehepatology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
2000 Neuchatel
Switzerland