Early-stage researchers learned about the needed technologies already available at the host laboratories and developed techniques and tools that were useful to achieve the main project goals.
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.
