Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ASCTN-Training (Training on Advanced Stem Cell Technologies in Neurology)
Reporting period: 2020-10-01 to 2023-03-31
The main objective of ASCTN-Training was to train a new generation of 14 highly inter-disciplinary early-stage researchers, capable of mastering techniques and methods across the borders of their own disciplines and recognizing ideas applicable to their own work. During that period, the early-stage researchers were involved in mimicking the neurodegenerative disease, both physiologically and anatomically, study cell-cell and cell tissue interactions, stablishing cell differentiation protocols, and characterizing all the studies.
In general, all these studies carried out by early-stage researchers allowed for improvements in the current strategies to properly reproduce the neurological disorders and thus better characterize them.
The work performed by the early-stage researchers allowed them to obtain well-developed and characterized protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into different brain cells, not only neurons but also other glial cells. Additionally, the protocols were adapted to the brain-on-chip systems (brain in a lab) and in vitro artificial minibrains known as brain organoids by the early-stage researchers involved in the project. Two different brain-on-chip systems were designed: one to study interactions between different brain cell types and the other to hold brain organoid cultures. To improve a 3D artificial minibrains, a tuneable hydrogel for a 3D bioprinting system was produced.
On the other hand, genetic constructs such as lentiviruses for calcium sensors to detect neuronal activity and modified rabies viruses to analyse neuronal connectivity were achieved. Molecular constructs for cell reprogramming for directly converting glial cells into neurons in cell culture, and to follow this astrocyte-to-neuronal conversion were developed and achieved.
Early-stage researchers working with in vivo approaches used mouse/rat models of some neurodegenerative diseases, to analyse the therapeutic potential of cell transplant, cell integration into the brain, and cell tracking. In addition, the astrocyte-to-neuron conversion was also assessed in vivo.
Although the pandemic impacted directly on the formation of these early-stage researchers, they learned many techniques, and they are or already defended their PhDs or are preparing their dissertations, which will provide the scientific community with new talented doctors with high knowledge not only on technical aspects but also in policy and industrial approaches. Appropriate tools and courses were given during the project's lifespan, and early-stage researchers were provided with skills and capabilities to exploit their results or knowledge after the project. In fact, some of these early-stage researchers are already working for companies related to the sector of biotechnology or medical applications.
Early-stage researchers attended around 80 conferences. As the project was multidisciplinary and covered different research fields, the assisted conferences ranged from basic research (e.g. Annual meeting of TerCel, the Spanish network of Cell Therapy) to more applied research (e.g. EUROoCS conference on Organ-on-a-chip). In some of them, they presented their results through a poster or oral presentation.
Dissemination of the results was carried out through the social media of the project (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and webpage), and scientific events, such as Pint of Science or PhD days among others.
Through ASCTN-Training, the early-stage researchers gained an impressive set of skills and expertise in a field that is in desperate need of highly capable scientists:
• Innovative and translational research.
• Highly individualized and monitored skill development plans.
• Trans-sectorial knowledge.
• Extensive team building, project management and communication skills.
The ASCTN-Training education was undoubtedly made deeper by high level of interaction and complementarity of interests between the academic and non-academic partners and developed a blueprint for structuring doctoral training at the European level. All early-stage researchers received research training in both academia and industry to ensure significant impact on public-private sector collaboration. ASCTN-Training ensured enough knowledge to technological and commercial exploit the results. European Brain Council (EBC) provided early-stage researchers with inter-disciplinary training that helped them to grasp how their future about neurological disorders research can be potentially translated into practice and policy that will address unmet societal needs.
The knowledge to be generated in ASCTN-Training falls within the global regeneration market, mainly driven by the rapidly ageing population and associated neurological diseases. This was where some participating SMEs’ activities fall within. The interest for new investment in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine was considerable until the end of the project, both among private investors and industrial players. Due to the setbacks, such as the pandemic, the planned progression of the project was not fully carried out as initially planned. However, thanks to the adaptation of the full program to on line lectures and courses, the consortium members drove the early-stage researchers to learn on the development of a company to exploit the results and to bring the final product on the marked. Unfortunately, the pandemic impact on the project did not favour the practical aspects of some of the planned trainings.