Objective
LifeLink will devise a totally new concept for an interactive artificial placenta (AP) that can provide safer and more efficient oxygenation to pre-term babies giving them the chance to bridge until the point they can breathe on their own. Pre-term birth is the leading cause of death in children under five, with over 1 million deaths annually due to complications. To address this, pre-term infants require continuous oxygenation as they would receive in the womb, yet no extracorporeal oxygenator currently exists for this purpose. LifeLink aims to fill this gap by developing an innovative AP platform that overcomes two key challenges: hemocompatibility and the excessive cardiac stress caused by high flow resistance. The project pioneers a bioinspired, endothelium-mimetic coating that integrates the three key endothelial functions—stealth, modulation, and interaction—into a single hemocompatible layer. This design reduces the need for anticoagulants and minimizes thrombogenicity. The coating, featuring antifouling brushes, FXIIa inhibitors, and tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), mimics the natural endothelium’s ability to prevent clot formation, regulate coagulation, and promote fibrinolysis, making it ideal for blood-contacting devices like oxygenators. LifeLink will enhance gas exchange and flow dynamics using triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) designs, such as gyroid structures, to lower cardiac stress and eliminate the need for external pumps. These 3D membranes will be fabricated via centrifugal casting and tested for gas transport, hemocompatibility, and clot-dissolving capabilities, with polymer brush coatings to boost performance. This interdisciplinary approach, structured across three work packages—developing endothelium-mimetic coatings, designing TPMS-based membranes, and conducting hemocompatibility and gas transfer tests—seeks to revolutionize pre-term care, providing a validated solution for AP systems and improving outcomes for premature infants.
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 chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine obstetrics
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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-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European 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-2024-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.
08028 Barcelona
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.