Objective
FIBROC aims to develop a multiscale, human-relevant cardiac fibrosis-on-chip platform with integrated sensing and AI-enabled analytics for mechanistic studies and high-throughput drug screening. Cardiac fibrosis stiffens the heart as scar-forming cells lay down excess extracellular matrix (ECM), yet no approved therapy directly targets this process, and prevailing animal/2D models miss human multicellular and mechanical complexity and lack screening throughput. The platform will integrate stiffness-graded 3D microtissues, crosstalk among human cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), fibroblasts, and macrophages, and heartbeat-like loading, with continuous mechanical/metabolic sensing, imaging, and label-free spectroscopic readouts. AI models will integrate these readouts to stage disease and quantify responses. Mechanistic focus is on how matrix stiffness and TGF-β/Smad signalling sustain myofibroblast activation and collagen remodelling. In brief, I will 3D-print a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based bioink containing hiPSC-CMs, fibroblasts, and macrophages to generate 96 microtissues in one run, preset to healthy, mild, and severe stiffness; cyclic strain and soluble cues (e.g. TGF-β1) will be used to induce fibrosis. The system will first be validated with reference TGF-β/Smad pathway inhibitors, then used to prioritise novel compounds in partnership with the Oxford Target Discovery Institute. The project will be hosted in Oxford’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG), under the supervision of Dr Filipa Simões (cardio-immunology), with Prof Dame Molly Stevens as a collaborator (biosensing) within DPAG. Building on my track record in biofabrication and in vitro disease modelling, this project extends into cardiology and advanced quantitative phenotyping, expands my cross-disciplinary network and leadership, and positions me to launch an independent, translational research agenda while delivering an open, screening-grade resource for antifibrotic discovery.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology biosensing
- medical and health sciences basic medicine anatomy and morphology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology
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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-2025-PF
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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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.