Project description
Soft, flexible bioelectric implant speeds up nerve regeneration and wound healing
Bioelectric implants are tiny devices that read and modulate electrical signals generated by the body's nervous system. These devices offer the promise of targeted treatments. The EU-funded BIOELECTRIC project plans to fabricate and validate robust, durable and biocompatible soft bioelectric implants (SBIs). To reduce fragility, researchers will use hydrogels to build the SBI framework and selected block copolymers to improve the performance of the essential membranes within them. The functional properties of the SBIs will be tested on neurons and muscle cells in a culture. Variations of the SBI device will be applied to a wide range of medical conditions including retina replacement, spinal cord regeneration and wound healing.
Objective
The goal of BIOELECTRIC is to fabricate and validate robust, durable and biocompatible soft bioelectric implants (SBI) that deliver ionic therapeutics. Fundamental science derived from our ERC Advanced Grant SYNTISU has generated a functional laboratory version of such an implant, but it is extremely fragile. Robustness and durability will be addressed by using advanced hydrogels to build the framework of the SBI and selected block copolymers to improve the performance of the essential membranes within them. These materials will be chosen with a view towards biocompatibility, which will be confirmed by a variety of tests on human cells. The functional properties of the SBIs will be tested on neurons and muscle cells in culture. Variations of the SBI device will be applicable to a wide range of medical conditions: for example, retina replacement, spinal cord regeneration, and wound healing. BIOELECTRIC will also enable us to work with a highly-qualified consultant to conduct market analysis and develop a strong business plan to increase investor confidence, which will in turn allow us to raise significant capital funding for a spin-out company: Soft BioElectric. Accordingly, the scientific program of BIOELECTRIC will culminate in the fabrication of a portable demonstration unit for presentation to potential investors, partner organisations and clinicians. Business planning will be carried out with the support of Oxford University’s technology transfer office (OUI) and a select international panel of advisors. The developing awareness that critical cell, tissue and organ behaviours are regulated by endogenous bioelectricity has opened up the new and vital area of bioelectronic medicine. Together, the scientific and business aspects of BIOELECTRIC will expedite the commercial application of SBIs in this emerging field and deliver significant value to the European economy.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.