Descripción del proyecto
Desarrollo de un nuevo modelo de órgano en un chip para el sistema nervioso
Los innovadores sistemas «in vitro», denominados «órganos en un chip», simulan la estructura y funcionamiento de órganos humanos y son importantes para la investigación científica básica y para el desarrollo preclínico de nuevos tratamientos. La conectividad celular y la interacción entre los diferentes componentes de los sistemas de órganos son fundamentales para comprender afecciones complejas, como los trastornos neurodegenerativos. El equipo del proyecto CONNECT, financiado con fondos europeos, está desarrollando los modelos «in vitro» avanzados para el sistema nervioso. El proyecto representa un esfuerzo interdisciplinario que incluye la nanofabricación, la microfluídica, la tecnología de células madre, la ingeniería de tejidos y la imagenología. Como prueba de principio, en CONNECT se aspira a demostrar la eficacia de este modelo de sistema en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson, lo que allana el camino para el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias terapéuticas.
Objetivo
Novel micro-engineered in vitro models have been developed to mimic key functions of human organs. These so-called organ-on-chips (OoC) recapitulate the structure and function of human organs, and are particularly important for scientific research that is underlying our knowledge base of diseases and for the pre-clinical development of novel therapeutics. However, the application of these models has its limitations as they do not mimic the complexity and functioning of complete organ systems. Connectivity between cells and the linkage between different components of organ systems is essential in studying complex conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases form a major challenge for the scientific community and are associated with a heavy burden on society and the global healthcare systems. To effectively grasp the complexity of neurodegenerative disorders, the CONNECT consortium develops the next level in vitro model systems for the nervous system and puts it firmly on the map. The project acts at the convergence of a multitude of disciplines including nanofabrication, microfluidics, stem cell technology, tissue engineering and advanced imaging. The successful completion of this high risk-high gain project will enable for the first time to study a complete organ system and deliver a viable paradigm for future technology to study connectivity in the nervous system. The proposed work in this project offers a unique opportunity to culture individual nervous system components and connect them in a single “smart” microfluidic chip (CONNECT platform), forming an elementary three compartment model from the central nervous system (CNS) to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). As Proof-of-Principle, CONNECT will demonstrate the feasibility of this system model in Parkinson’s Disease. This provides CONNECT with novel insights, thereby paving the way for future development of therapeutic strategies.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-FETPROACT-2018-01
Régimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
5612 AE Eindhoven
Países Bajos