Objectif Alternative model organisms, such as worms or flies, are getting increasingly popular in the drug discovery field, since they are proving to be suitable for replacing mammals for several aspects of the screening tests in the pre-clinical phase. In this context, one of the most interesting models is a roundworm species, named Caenorhabditis elegans. Its microscopic size, however, hinders its actual use in the field, since the protocols for its maintenance and study still completely rely on manual handling/observation techniques, definitely lacking any reproducibility and throughput standards. The NeMatrix project proposes to fill this technological gap, by developing a microfluidic platform for fully automated culture and analysis of C. elegans –and, more in general, roundworms-, tailored for drug screening applications. Specifically, starting from a simple worm suspension, our envisioned prototype will employ a set of microfluidic-based automated operations to: (i) gently distribute nematodes within separate microcompartments; (ii) feed them at desired food rate, time and concentration; (iii) expose them to drug tests at desired rate, time and drug concentrations; (iv) continuously monitor multiple phenotypes over the whole worm population in the device; (v) provide real-time data analysis and store/exploit results in a “big data” approach. This project would provide one of the first examples of next-generation technologies for whole-organism drug screening, with the potential of paving the way for the widespread use of worms and other alternative model organisms for the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal testing in biomedical research and pharmaceutical industries. The project will be held in close collaboration with key industrial partners in the field, in the framework of a planned startup company, which currently is on the way of creation. Champ scientifique medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencebig datanatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-PoC-2016 - ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 Appel à propositions ERC-2016-PoC Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Institution d’accueil ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Contribution nette de l'UE € 150 000,00 Adresse BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne Suisse Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 150 000,00 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Suisse Contribution nette de l'UE € 150 000,00 Adresse BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 150 000,00
