Project description
Advanced bioprinting for urethral tissue regeneration
Urethral strictures affect 0.6 % of males, leading to significant health and economic challenges. Repair methods are essential, and while bioprinting shows promise, a gap remains between research and clinical application. In this context, the EU-funded STRONG-UR project will develop bioprinted tubular tissue constructs for urethral tissue engineering. It will create modular, scalable bioprinter components and smart bioinks that can be personalised for individual constructs, enabling noninvasive monitoring and real-time treatment assessments. Two main strategies are proposed: a single-stage in situ bioprinting method for faster clinical translation and a multistage approach using GMP-manufactured components to enhance vascularisation and tissue healing. It also introduces an in vitro urethral model for more ethical and reliable preclinical testing.
Objective
STRONG-UR aims to revolutionise surgical tissue reconstruction by producing next-generation bioprinted tubular tissue constructs, focusing on urethral tissue engineering. Urethral strictures affect approximately 0.6% of the male population, leading to persistent physical and psychological impairment in patients and imposing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. The lack of effective techniques to heal and repair diseased urethras emphasises the urgent need to invest in innovative regenerative approaches. In this direction, bioprinting offers promising prospects through the production of customised tissue constructs with controlled cell composition and architecture. However, there is still a significant gap between laboratory studies and clinical application, which is why there is currently no reliable technology available for clinical use. STRONG-UR includes the development of modular, scalable bioprinter components and bioinks to bridge the current gap. The bioinks comprise smart hydrogels customisable to personalised urethral constructs, supporting desired cellular functions and enabling non-invasive monitoring for real-time treatment assessment. Two different approaches are proposed: a single stage in situ bioprinting approach for accelerated clinical translation and a multistage approach using GMP-manufactured components to induce vascularisation and promote tissue healing. In addition, a novel bioprinted in vitro urethral model is proposed as a human-based testing platform for more ethical and reliable preclinical assessments. The project is in line with EU health policy, addressing unmet clinical needs and supports a Europe fit for the digital age. With a 12-partner consortium composed of scientists, clinicians, and companies contributing to the whole value chain, supported by a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a proven track record of successful projects in this field, STRONG-UR represents the best team to deliver this ground-breaking work.
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.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.5 - Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for Health and Care, including personalised medicine
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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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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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-HLTH-2024-TOOL-11
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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.
9220 Aalborg
Denmark
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.