SeCtOR ENABleRs  : development of a tailored platform for biologists

The main scientif and industrial challenge of SeCtOR ENABleRs* is to develop, validate and industrialize a multipurpose convenient platform to unleash the power of microfluidics. The project aims to provide the scientific community of a userfriendly and tailorable platform able to replicate the complexity of tissue and organs. The core of the concept is based on a set of standard biomimetic extracellular matrix formulations that will be used to mimic specific cell niches and to produce the stem of a vascular system that will be continuously perfused by means of microfluidics. Essential for the whole project is the possibility to rapidly change the temperature of the chip; a task in which Cherry Temp has no eguals.

The targets: designing a multipurpose platform

 The long term goal of SeCtOR ENABleRs is to provide the scientific community of a robust, simple as possible and complex as needed platform to increase the more realistic 3D-cells culture models based on microfluidics. The chip design is mainly intended to obtain higly reproducible miniaturized tissues/organs models to be used as: an alternative to in vivo models ; in vitro drug screening ; in vitro system for personalized medicine. Nevertheless its design is also intended to facilitate the research of stem cell differentiation in complex and realistic environments.

Bridging the gap between academics and innovative industries

Linking academics and innovative industries

Academic and innovative enterprises are the main innovator actors but often speak “diffent languages” since they have often different goals. As an academic scientist Dr. Dario Fassini could experience how difficult can be attracting into a project consortium strong industrial partners.  In the frame of the European research plan H2020 much enphasis has been put in promoting a stronger collaboration between the two sides of innovation. Still too often academic scientists have little clues on what is essential for industrial partners. Establish sound consortium and goals are key aspect to accelerate innovation which is true only when is available for the community.

The project manager: Dr. Dario Fassini

Dr. Dario Fassini is a Marie Curie Fellow. He has worked in physiology of invertebrates connective tissues and later on biomimetic collagen crosslinking strategies dedicated to 3D-bioprinting.

Dario will do a full immersion in the young and dynamic CherryBiotech SAS environment to achieve new expertiese and get a deep insight on the fundamental requirements of the future of European innovative industries thus acquiring the vision to promote stronger and more efficient research consortium reducing the gap between academic and industries.

Spreading the message

The European commission is actively promoting innovation trought significant amount of economic efforts. Nevertheless those are often unreported or poorly understood by the general comunity outreach. Considering the potential impact of SeCtOR ENABleRs in field with high ethical significance, as the possibility to replace/reduce animal tests, the meaning and the results achieved by the project will be disseminated to the community trough selected articles in generalistic magazines as well as promoting a dedicated symposium in a scientific festival.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 752277