Project description
Smart device for mechanically influenced biological processes
Biological materials undergo mechanical stress, which influences processes like healing and cancer. To improve therapy and drug discovery, a robust testing platform is needed to replicate these conditions. However, current methods are limited, hindering industrial applications. The ERC-funded ISBIOMECH project developed a smart system to control the mechanical environment of cellular and tissue materials, with the goal of commercialising it for mechanobiology research and treatment testing. This new device and its software provided the first robust system for in vitro testing of mechanically influenced biological processes, using magneto-responsive substrates for non-invasive, real-time control of complex deformations. The system focused on critical studies such as epithelial wound healing, neurological disorders and cardiac conditions.
Objective
In nature, all biological material from the cell to the tissue level is subjected to continuous mechanical stress and strain. These mechanical cues play an essential role on several biological processes and can determine the fate of a healing or a cancerous process, among many others. Therefore, research activities focusing on studying the deterministic nature of these processes need a robust test platform that allows for reproducing these mechanically-varying environments. Such a system would significantly contribute to improving in-vitro testing of therapies and drug discovery, incorporating the essential influence of mechanics in pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies. However, the current approaches are restricted to basic science methods with important limitations. This lack of a suitable system hinders the translation of basic science in mechanobiology to its application in the industrial-technological field. ISBIOMECH proposes a novel intelligent system to control the mechanical environment of cellular/tissue materials, to be commercially exploited as laboratory equipment for mechanobiology research and pathological treatment testing. The novel device and associated software will provide the first commercially available system to allow for robust and reproducible in-vitro testing of mechanically-influenced biological processes. More concretely, the system will use magneto-responsive substrates allowing for non-invasive, multidimensional and real-time control of complex deformation modes on cellular/tissue materials. This technology will be implemented and validated by demonstration activities at stakeholders’ labs to address timely mechanobiological studies in epithelial wound healing, neurological disorders and cardiac pathology. The proposed system has the potential to open the experimental path to improve current treatments in, e.g. cancer pathologies, pathological skin scarring or fibrotic heart remodelling during myocardial infarction.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC2
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28903 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.