Project description
Simulating gut motility for enhanced drug delivery
Oral drug delivery is the most cost-effective method, yet predicting how medicines dissolve and are absorbed in the small intestine remains unreliable because existing models cannot replicate complex physiological factors such as gut motility. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DrugsInGut project aims to overcome this by developing the first integrated multi-scale framework. By combining high-resolution computational fluid dynamics with biomimetic experimental models, it will simulate intestinal environments from the microscopic villi-scale to organ-level intestinal contractions. DrugsInGut will support Horizon Europe’s goals by promoting open science and reducing animal experimentation. Ultimately, providing validated open-source predictive models may accelerate drug development and deliver more effective, personalised medicine, significantly improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs across the EU.
Objective
Oral administration is the most common and cost-effective way of delivering medicines, yet predicting how drugs dissolve and are absorbed in the small intestine remains highly unreliable. This is because absorption depends not only on the drug formulation, but also on complex physiological factors such as gut motility, fluid mixing, rheology, and the microscopic structure of the mucosa. Current in vitro and in vivo models cannot reproduce these features, limiting reliable design of oral therapies and contributing to high healthcare costs, especially in gastrointestinal disorders.
The DrugsInGut project will develop the first integrated multi-scale framework that couples computational fluid dynamics simulations with biomimetic experimental models to study drug dissolution and absorption in the small intestine. High-resolution imaging of intestinal motility will be used to inform advanced CFD models capable of capturing villi-scale micro-mixing and organ-level peristalsis. In parallel, soft biomimetic intestinal reactors with villi-like structures and active contractions will be fabricated to replicate physiological conditions in vitro. Together, these approaches will provide unprecedented insight into how motility, rheology, and microstructure control the fate of oral drug formulations.
By delivering a validated open-source predictive model, DrugsInGut will directly benefit pharmaceutical research and regulation, enabling faster and safer drug development pipelines. The project is fully aligned with the Horizon Europe objectives of promoting open science, digital health innovation, reduction of animal experimentation, and personalized medicine. In the longer term, the outcomes will contribute to more effective and inclusive oral drug delivery strategies, ultimately improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs in Europe.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
38058 Grenoble
France
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.