Project description
Tracheal restoration: 3D printed tubular scaffolds supporting new cell growth
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, conveys air to and from the lungs. The trachea is a large tube lined with cells that produce mucous; it is reinforced by C-shaped cartilage rings that flexibly support it. Tracheal damage has become more common due to mechanical intubation related to COVID, and damage in general can be life-threatening. Currently, implants to repair severe damage weaken over time and do not support the formation of new tissues. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the iTRACH project seeks to address this by developing and characterising 3D-printed cell-based pre-vascularised tubular scaffolds designed to mimic tracheal biomechanics and support the growth of tracheal tissues.
Objective
Tracheal damage is often life-threatening, and its incidence has increased due to invasive mechanical intubation of COVID-19 patients. Short defects undergo a surgical procedure (anastomosis), but this is not feasible for extensive defects. While bioengineered approaches for such defects have been investigated, there has been little translation into the clinic as implants weaken over time and fail to support the formation of neotracheal tissues. I aim to solve this problem by developing and characterising 3D printed tubular scaffolds for use as medical devices for tracheal restoration via a Global Fellowship involving Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Boston University, followed by a non-academic placement in CellInk. Scaffolds will be designed to mimic tracheal biomechanics and will be extensively characterised. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be used to develop a pre-vascularised mature respiratory epithelium on disc scaffolds in combination with endothelial progenitors and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The tri-culture will then be moved into the tubular design and the pre-vascularised mucosal substitute will be grown and assessed in vitro as an approach for ex vivo seeding of tracheal grafts prior to implantation. The ability of the tubular scaffold to support the growth of cartilage tissues will be assessed using a combination of bioprinting and differentiation of hMSCs. iTRACH will provide me with crucial training in advanced research skills (iPSCs, stem cell biology, biomaterials & 3D printing) and transferrable skills (Intellectual Property, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Professional Enhancement and Science Communication). This fellowship will provide me with the required technical and complementary skills to enhance my employability and to allow me to transition into a research position in a leading biomedical company, while also allowing for the possibility of me staying in an academic role with links to industry.
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.
- social sciences economics and business business and management entrepreneurship
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
2 DUBLIN
Ireland
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.