Descrizione del progetto
Una rete di formazione sulla ricerca affronta i meccanismi dei danni cutanei soggetti a forze di taglio
Le proprietà meccaniche e biologiche della pelle umana si possono alterare nelle persone immobilizzate su un letto o su una sedia a rotelle, nelle persone con amputazioni che indossano una protesi o quando i dispositivi medici sono attaccati alla pelle. Queste situazioni possono provocare ulcere da pressione, in particolare nelle persone anziane e diabetiche. Inoltre, la pelle è sensibile ai vari prodotti per la cura personale utilizzati nella vita quotidiana, comportando varie forme di irritazione. Il progetto STINTS, finanziato dal programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, istituirà una rete di ricercatori e ricercatrici altamente specializzati attivi nello studio degli eventi biomeccanici e biochimici che portano alla perdita dell’integrità della pelle durante la sua esposizione a pressioni prolungate e forze di taglio. L’obiettivo è ridurre al minimo gli impatti considerevoli delle condizioni debilitanti della pelle, tra cui ulcere da pressione, sui sistemi sanitari e sulla qualità della vita dei pazienti.
Obiettivo
The mechanical, chemical and biological properties of human skin may be challenged when in contact with another surface e.g. immobilized persons supported on a bed or in a wheelchair, amputees wearing a prosthesis, and individuals with orthoses or functional medical devices attached to the skin. This can result pressure ulcers, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities such as diabetes. Skin condition is also critical during interactions with personal care products such as creams, shavers, grooming devices, therapeutic lamps or massage equipment, which can result in various forms of irritation. The main scientific aim of STINTS is to understand the complex biomechanical and biochemical pathways leading to loss of skin integrity, following the exposure of the skin to prolonged pressure and shear forces that ultimately result in damage at the cellular level. The objective is to reduce the huge societal and financial costs of pressure ulcers by improving (a) the design of more effective preventative aids (mattresses, shoe insoles, incontinence products etc.), (b) early stage diagnosis (non-invasive biomarkers and sensors, and smart materials) and (c) ultrasound therapy. The new understanding of skin behaviour will also be exploited by application to personal care products (razors that cause minimal skin irritation and skin creams with more efficacious skin hydration and barrier properties). These objectives will be achieved by the deployment of experts in multi-scale computer simulation, experimental cellular and tissue biomechanics, biophysical monitoring, sensor design, medical devices and materials, and clinical studies. STINTS will create an ambitious environment of supradisciplinary inter-sectoral research training for early stage researchers that combines the needs for the creative skills of academic and industrial researchers, the entrepreneurial drive of the private sector and clinical innovation.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIV
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinatore
B15 2TT Birmingham
Regno Unito