Description du projet
Cultiver un organisme de recherche fonctionnel et uni pour faire avancer les modèles de maladies
La recherche animale a fourni des connaissances précieuses sur la santé et les maladies de l’homme, renforçant ainsi la compréhension fondamentale et contribuant à développer et tester des traitements avant de passer aux essais cliniques chez l’homme. De nombreux modèles ont désormais été mis en place pour évaluer et tester des hypothèses comme alternative aux expérimentations animales. Parmi les plus prometteurs se trouvent les organoïdes, des tissus 3D minuscules, spécifiques aux organes et auto-organisés, obtenus à partir de cultures de cellules souches. Ils nous permettent de mieux comprendre la manière dont les tissus et les organes se forment et se développent, et servent de banc d’essai pour évaluer des médicaments et d’autres traitements. REMODEL rationalise le processus de développement d’organoïdes en ciblant trois domaines extrêmement importants: les infections, le cancer et la régénération tissulaire. Son succès dépend de la rencontre des expertises européennes dans le domaine des systèmes organoïdes, qui en seront également renforcées.
Objectif
REMODEL combines the existing local expertise in bioengineering, cancer and infectious diseases with partners at the frontline in developing organoid systems, manipulating them to fit specific purposes and validating their use as models, in order to build capacity to work with innovative model systems that can replace animal experiments and increase translational relevance. In doing so, REMODEL addresses a key issue in today’s biomedical research: how non-animal model systems can be developed to meet the needs for translationally relevant research in the era of precision and personalized medicine, whilst at the same time accounting for societal pressure to replace animal experiments. REMODEL will capacitate the coordinating institution, IBMC-i3S, through the establishment of organoid advanced in vitro models and their customization for the main areas of research (infection, cancer and tissue regeneration). REMODEL will contribute to raising the research profile of the institution and scientific skills of its staff developed through training schools and short-term scientific training periods as well as transferable skills training and mentoring of Early Stage researchers, but also through staff participation in international conferences presenting work within the REMODEL themes / framework. Organoids as experimental models are at the frontline of methodological development in biomedicine, and demonstrating competence in working with such models will place i3S in the spotlight in an international research context, and make the institution an attractive partner for future collaborations beyond the REMODEL network. On the European level, REMODEL represents an important initiative to bring together key partners in the development of innovative models to overcome the present fragmentation of European organoid research and move towards applications in animal replacement.
Champ scientifique
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.4.b. - Twinning of research institutions Main Programme
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinateur
4200 135 Porto
Portugal