Objective The goal of the proposed research project is to reconstruct a human cornea in vitro, for use both in corneal grafting and as an alternative to animal models for cosmeto-pharmacotoxicity testing. The project responds to the urgent need to develop new forms of corneal replacements as alternatives to the use of donor corneas, in view of the worldwide shortage of donors, the increasing risk of transmissible diseases, the widespread use of corrective surgery, which renders corneas unsuitable for grafting, and the severe limitations of currently available synthetic polymer-based artificial corneas (keratoprostheses). The originality of the proposal lies in the use of recombinant human extra cellular matrix proteins to build a engineered-engineered scaffold to support growth of the different cell types found in the cornea, cells to be derived from human adult stem cell pools. The development of a reconstructed human cornea will represent a real breakthrough, allowing diseased or damaged corneas to be replaced by tissue-engineered human corneal equivalents that resemble in all respects their natural counterparts. The proposal also responds to impending ED legislation banning the marketing of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals, using procedures such as the Raise rabbit eye irritation test. The development of tissue-engineered corneas will provide a non-animal alternative, which will therefore alleviate animal suffering. The project will lead to a transformation of industry to meet societal needs using innovative, knowledge-based approaches integrating Nan technology and biotechnology. The project brings together 14 participants with complementary expertise from 9 different countries, including basic scientists, ophthalmologists and industrialists (three Sees). Ethical and standardisation aspects will also be included. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologytissue engineeringmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Keywords Nanotechnology connective tissue cornea nanotechnology stem cells tissue engineering Programme(s) FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NMP-2002-3.4.4.2 - Tissue engineering, new biomimetic and bio-hybrid systems Call for proposal FP6-2002-NMP-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE EU contribution No data Address Rue Michel Ange 3 PARIS France See on map Total cost No data Participants (13) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE - HOPITAUX DE PARIS France EU contribution No data Address 3 Avenue Victoria PARIS See on map Total cost No data BANQUE FRANCAISE DES YEUX France EU contribution No data Address 6 Quai des Celestins PARIS See on map Total cost No data LABORATOIRES IOLTECH SA France EU contribution No data Address Avenue Paul Langevin LA ROCHELLE See on map Total cost No data ENGELHARD LYON SA France EU contribution No data Address 32 Rue Saint Jean de Dieu LYON See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM HAMBURG-EPPENDORF Germany EU contribution No data Address Martinistrasse 52 HAMBURG See on map Total cost No data FONDAZIONE CENTRO SAN RAFFAELE DEL MONTE TABOR Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Olgettina 60 MILANO See on map Total cost No data FONDAZIONE BANCA DEGLI OCCHI DEL VENETO - O.N.L.U.S. Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Felisati 109 VENEZIA MESTRE See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Nethergate DUNDEE See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE Belgium EU contribution No data Address Place du 20 Aout, 7 LIEGE See on map Total cost No data LUNDS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution No data Address Paradisgatan 5c LUND See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF OULU Finland EU contribution No data Address Pentti Kaiteran Katu 1 OULU See on map Total cost No data TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY Israel EU contribution No data Address Ramat-Aviv RAMAT - AVIV See on map Total cost No data ORTA DOGU TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI Türkiye EU contribution No data Address Inonu Bulvari ANKARA See on map Total cost No data
