Objective
Engineered tissues can be used to replace, repair, or regenerate dysfunctional bodily tissues to extend live spans and improve quality of life. Our ability to create small tissues to heal rodents has taken breath-taking leaps. However, we are not yet able to create large tissues that remain viable. As a result, many tissue engineering breakthroughs have not yet been able to translate into clinical treatments. Specifically, nutrient diffusion limitations cause starvation and failure of large engineered living matter. In short, novel technologies to maintain viability of large engineered tissues are urgently needed.
In VitaliTE, I will overcome this challenge by delivering a unique solution: offering active metabolic support for engineered tissues. This will be achieved via a two-pronged material-based strategy. First, to bridge the prevascular phase, I will endow engineered tissues with self-feeding properties. I will do this via the novel concept of introducing nutritional nanoparticles, which will release nutrients in a cell-triggered manner. Second, to facilitate long-term survival, I will encode engineered tissue with perfusable vascular trees containing a highly dense network of capillaries and large blood vessels. To do this, I will explore Xolographically bioprinting of living micromaterials. To deliver concrete proof of principle, VitaliTE’s impact will be demonstrated by healing large volume critical bone defects.
The anticipated outcomes of VitaliTE are threefold. The first outcome will be a next-generation class of engineered living matter that overcomes the current size restriction preventing clinical translation. The second outcome will be new knowledge on how starvation and metabolites influence vascularization and tissue formation by enabling control over in vivo metabolic levels. The third outcome will be a novel strategy for treating large bone defects using a highly innovative, directly applicable, and clinically translatable technology toolbox.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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 - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2025-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands
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.