About us
The 4-Deep Brain Reconstruction (4-DBR) project, funded by Horizon EIC Pathfinder, is a multidisciplinary consortium that brings together experts in the areas of (I) cellular biology, (II) tissue engineering and (III) optogenetics.
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The 4-DBR integrates one biomedical research institute, one hospital, two universities and two innovative SME coming from 5 European members states (Spain, Italy, Denmark, France and Sweden). Together, we aim to develop a new approach to treat patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques
August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
The IDIBAPS is a public biomedical research center that combines high quality clinical research with basic research to achieve a more effective transfer of scientific results in the prevention and treatment of the most common health issues. IDIBAPS was founded in 1996 and is formed by Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Barcelona (UB), the Government of Catalonia, and the Institute of Biomedical Research in Barcelona of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IIBB-CSIC).
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Dr. Josep M Canals member of the Pathophysiology and treatment of neurodegenerative group at IDIBAPS, leads the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine research group. He is also the Director of Creatio, the production and validation center of advanced therapies. The main aim of IDIBAPS research group is to understand the molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment in order to find better treatments for currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases.
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The IDIBAPS will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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2D and 3D cell culture
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Direct cell differentiation
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Animal modelling pathological defects of neurological diseases
Team
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Dr. Josep M Canals
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Dr. Alice Louail
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Ms. Georgina Bombau
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Dr. Anna Vila
VERIGRAFT
VERIGRAFT is a privately funded biotech company located in Gothenburg (Sweden). It is leading the area of regenerative medicine by in providing human personalized grafts to target untreatable severe and chronic disease.
VERIGRAFT’s portfolio has products that have already reached clinical stage such as the personalized tissue-engineered vein (P-TEVTM) graft and the personalized artery graft. In addition, the biotech company is exploring other areas such as personalized heart valves, nerve grafts and urethra grafts.
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The company has an extensive experience in international projects, as it has collaborated in projects related to development, manufacturing and clinical operations projects such as Eurostars, Training4CRM.
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VERIGRAFT will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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Dissection and decellularization to obtain specific ECM
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Tissue recellularization
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Team
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Dr. Raimund Strehl
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Dr. Lachmi Jenndahl
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Ms. Pernilla Gill
Poietis
Established in 2014, Poietis is a healthtech pioneer company specialized in the development and manufacturing of human tissues by 4D bioprinting, located in Bordeaux (France).
The bioprinting technology of Poietis, focuses on laser-assisted bioprinting technology, is the result of more than 10-years of innovative research, which has translated into the design of the multimodal Next Generation Biopriting (NGB) platform. Moreover, Poietis has 14 patent family among which stands out Poieskin®, a human full thickness skin model entirely produced by 3D bioprinting.
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Poetis is a vertically-integrated clinical 3D bioprinting company with partnerships with world’s leading pharmaceutical and cosmetic groups and it has participated in European consortium such as Pan3DP, ASCTN-ITN, Jointpromise and EUREKA-EUROSTARS.
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Poietis will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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4D Bioprinting technology
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Bio-ink development
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Team
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Mr. Bruno Brisson
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Dr. Fabien Guillemot
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Dr. Diane Rattier
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Ms. Deepshika Arasu
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)
Based in Lyngby, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a public, independent and self-governing university specializing in technical and natural sciences. DTU offers a unique profile with all stages of the innovation chain represented on campus –from basic and applied research, commercialization of IPR venture capital investment, to finance.
The Bioanalytics group, led by Prof. Jenny Emnéus, employs micro- and nanotechnology, microfluidics and multi-parameter detection systems (both optical and electrochemical) for the development and characterization of integrated devices with applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery and monitoring biological processes at cellular level. The research group aims to create new enabling tools for battling neurodegenerative diseases through developing innovative brain implants or disease modelling approaches. In recent years the group has acquired outstanding expertise in modelling neurodegenerative diseases through the coordination of European projects such as, EXCELL, Training4CRM, OpenMIND, and participation in BrainMatTrain.
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The DTU group will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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Opotogenetic technology
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Bioelectrochemistry
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3D Printing
Team
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Prof. Jenny Emnéus
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Dr. Arto Heiskanen
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Prof. Stephan S. Keller
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Post TBC
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
The University of Barcelona is the second largest university in Spain, and holds one of the highest positions in international rankings, where it often appears as the top institution in the country. UB is composed by sixteen faculties organized among six campuses, the Barcelona Science Park and nine affiliated centers.
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The UB research team members form part of Department of Material Science and Physical Chemistry and Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering are located in the Faculty of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Barcelona. Their research line is biomaterials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering with a focus on fabrication, processing, characterization and validation of bioactive materials for tissue engineering at the micro and nanoscale, as well as, on biofabrication of inks and bioinks for 3D printing.
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The UB will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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Bioinks development
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Rheological characterization and optimization of biomaterials
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Team:
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Dr Elena Xuriguera
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Dr Oscar Castaño
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Ms. Esther Galindo
Ospedale San Raffaele (OSR)
The Ospedale San Raffaele (OSR) is one of the leading private scientific research institutes in Italy, recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health as a Research Hospital (IRCCS). Based in Milan, the OSR comprises both clinical and research activities, performs cutting-edge science and aims at advancing the knowledge about human diseases and developing novel therapies through translational research.
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The Stem Cells and Neurogenesis research group, led by Prof Vania Broccoli, aims to understand neurological diseases and untangle the early molecular dysfunctions that contribute to pathological progression, as well as, the compression of the basis vulnerability of certain neuronal populations to specific diseases and understand the different degrees of plasticity of neuronal cells during aging and cellular reprogramming.
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The OSR group will contribute to the consortium by bringing its expertise in:
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2D and 3D cell culture
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Direct cell reprogramming
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Modelling cellular pathological defects of neurological diseases (such as Parkinson)
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Team:
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Prof. Vania Broccoli
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Dr. Angelo Iannielli