Objective
Low back pain (LBP) is an immense public health challenge affecting an estimated 619 million people worldwide as of 2020 and projected to reach 843 million by 2050. In the EU, recent analyses indicate that the point prevalence of LBP among adults exceeds 44%.
A key underlying cause of LBP, which affect up to 85% of the global population and ranking first among age-related disabilities worldwide, is intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), an age-related, progressive condition responsible for most chronic back pain cases. Degeneration is driven by loss of disc cells and deterioration of essential structural proteins such as Aggrecan and Collagen II, leading to reduced hydration, impaired biomechanics, and a destructive cycle of extracellular matrix breakdown. As degeneration progresses, the disc becomes prone to herniation, directly contributing to spinal pain.
Current IVDD treatments provide only temporary symptom relief being unable to restore a functional tissue. Besides, conservative care carries risks ranging from cardiovascular complications to addiction. When these options fail, patients may undergo surgery, but procedures remain costly, invasive, and inaccessible for many. Eligibility is often limited by socioeconomic factors, long recovery periods, unpredictable outcomes, and significant gender and age disparities, leaving many patients undertreated.
For that, FETALIX developed a disruptive regenerative solution to treat and prevent IVDD and LBP extending healthspan. It consists in a biocompatible and off-the-shelf injectable biomaterial that is endowed with regenerative and anti-angiogenic properties since it is obtained from mammalian fetal by-products. This allows re-establishing biological cues once present in embryonic development and long lost with ageing, thus resulting in enhanced remodeling of the disc matrix and restoration of the mechanical properties of healthy tissue showcasing a full regenerative effect.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine surgery
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
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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.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
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-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support 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-WIDERA-2025-02
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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.
4250-455 Porto
Portugal
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.