Large bone defects caused by trauma, disease, or ageing represent a growing clinical challenge in Europe, particularly in an ageing population. Current treatments heavily rely on bone grafts taken from the patient or donors, which are limited in availability and may cause complications. At the same time, conventional off-the-shelf implants often fail to match the patient’s specific anatomy and mechanical needs, leading to poor integration or long-term failure.
ReBone addresses these challenges by developing a new end-to-end approach for personalized bone substitute implants made of bioactive glass and ceramic materials. The project brings together materials science, biomechanics, biology, computational modelling, and clinical planning to design implants that are not only patient-specific in shape, but also tailored in their internal structure, mechanical behaviour, and biological performance.
ReBone’s overall objective is to create a predictive and integrated design workflow, starting from clinical imaging data and ending with optimized, manufacturable, and biologically validated bone implants, while training ten doctoral candidates with multidisciplinary approaches and intersectoral interactions. By combining advanced 3D printing technologies, in-silico simulations, and realistic laboratory testing, ReBone aims to reduce trial-and-error in implant design and accelerate translation toward safer and more effective treatments. In the longer term, this approach can reduce revision surgeries, improve patient recovery, and support EU priorities in personalised medicine, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable healthcare innovation.
