The 4-DBR project was presented in the 21st International Congress of European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) that took place in Sitges (Spain), from 21 to 25 November 2022. This congress focuses on the development of in vitro and in silico approaches to find alternative methods to animal testing. The congress brings together every 2 years researchers, universities, companies, policymakers in the field to promote collaborations, network and exchange knowledge.

​

The 4-Deep Brain Reconstruction (4-DBR), a Horizon European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Open project, that aims to develop an implantable 4D bioprinted reconstructed brain able to mimic all properties and functions of human brain. This 4D minibrain will be able to treat patients who suffer from neurodegenerative disorders, a heterogeneous group of disorders where neurons in the brain or peripheral nervous system progressively either lose their function and structure or die. Neurodegenerative disorders affect around 180 million of Europeans, and it is calculated that 1 of 3 will be diagnosed with one of these disorders during their lifetime. Currently, there is no treatment or drug to prevent or cure these disorders. In fact, available treatments only slow down disease progression or reduce patient’s symptomatology.

​

One of the limitations for better treatments is the lack of appropriate human brain models. Traditional drug discovery relies heavily in rodents models however, these models cannot properly reproduce the symptoms and pathologies of neurodegenerative disorders due to the remarkable genomic and molecular differences between rodents and humans brain. Therefore, the 4D-minibrain model would be a better alternative to overcome the main limitations that current approaches present to treat patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

​

Dr. Josep M. Canals, Director of Creatio and coordinator of the 4-DBR project, presented at the ESTIV congress the project in Creatio’s stand through roll-up. The project appealed many delegates, both researchers and companies, and attendees from all the sectors came to visit us to get more information at the booth.

​

We would like to thanks to ESTIV team for such a fantastic and well-organized conference and for giving us the opportunity to boost our work and promote fruitful discussion about new alternatives of in vitro models that can translate into real impact for patients.