Professor Conor Buckley

Summary

Lower back pain is a global epidemiological and socioeconomic problem. Biomaterial and cell-based therapies have been pursued for the treatment of degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD), with a number of clinical trials underway. However, the degenerated intervertebral disc has a distinct environment (e.g. altered oxygen, glucose, acidity, inflammatory cytokine levels) that is unique to an individual (i.e. patient-specific) and will ultimately determine the likelihood and rate at which regeneration can occur. A "one size fits all" approach will lead to the failure to demonstrate efficacy of advanced therapies, as they are not being designed or personalised for individual patients. This proposal envisions a future whereby advanced gene activated cell therapies are personalised (targeting regeneration or modulating inflammation) to treat back pain based on knowing the individuals unique disc microenvironment. This will be achieved through profiling of individual patient disc microenvironmental factors, with in vitro screening and in silico modelling to design cell therapies and predict regeneration outcomes (Aim 1) combined with the development of tailored functionalised gene activated biomaterials (Aim 2), to enhance matrix formation and modulate the inflammatory processes (Aim 3). Gene-based therapy offers several advantages over direct delivery of proteins or small molecules, among them the possibility of sustained efficacy and endogenous synthesis of growth factors or suppression of inflammatory factors and pathways. The platform technology (personalised gene activated biomaterials to regulate regeneration and inflammation) and knowledge (tailoring cell therapies to suit patient-specific microenvironments) generated through this research are beyond the current state-of-the-art and will provide a significant transformative scientific and clinical step change opening new horizons in minimally-invasive therapeutic strategies.

Funding Agency

European Research Council

Programme

Consolidator Award (CoG)

Project Type

Applied Research

Person Months

60

Summary

The development of rapid, high-throughput, physiologically relevant models that can be used to better understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection will be crucial in the race to develop COVID-19 therapeutics. While 2D in vitro cell culture systems allow for high-throughput analysis of therapeutics, they fail to model the complex lung environment; conversely animal models may better model the human system but are expensive, time-consuming to develop and low-throughput. Therefore, we propose to leverage our extensive knowledge of 3D bioprinting to develop a physiologically relevant and highly scaleable 3D model of lung tissue which can be combined with human cells to allow for accurate and rapid in vitro testing of potential COVID therapeutics. The overall aim of this project is to leverage our 3D bioprinting hardware and expertise in decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) derived biomaterials to engineer lung tissue to support viral infectivity research and the search for an effective therapy against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19. Our specific objectives are to (1) develop and characterise a porcine lung extracellular matrix (ECM) bioink that can be used for the 3D bioprinting of lung tissue models, and (2) characterise the phenotype of lung cells within 3D bioprinted lung tissue. This 3D tissue model will then be shared with relevant COVID-19 researchers in Trinity.

Funding Agency

Trinity College Dublin

Programme

Trinity College Dublin COVID19 Response Funding

Project Type

Applied Research

Person Months

6

Summary

This is funding to renew the AMBER centre. AMBER unites Ireland's leading scientists in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine to deliver world class materials research with economic and societal impact in collaboration with industry.

Funding Agency

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Programme

Research Centres Award

Project Type

Platform Research/Industry Partnership

Person Months

72

Summary

Common European Masters in Biomedical Engineering (CEMACUBE) received the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) label, which was successfully awarded in 2019. The EIT is a European innovation body inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in Europe. This initiative links with the TCD MSc in Bioengineering with specialisation in Tissue Engineering. Co-applicants: RWTH Aachen; Trinity College Dublin; Ghent University; University Medical Center Groningen

Funding Agency

EIT Health

Programme

EIT Label

Project Type

Education

Summary

Orthopaedic medicine involves treating conditions that affect the bones, soft tissue and joints. 3D printing has the potential to transform treatments in orthopaedic medicine and the orthopaedic device industry, enabling the development of personalised implants and accelerating the supply chain of device companies. TRANSITION aims to develop a hybrid device consisting of a titanium core (providing mechanical integrity) overlaid by a layer of functional tissue (engineered bone and articular cartilage) which will be particularly suited to hip and knee implants. In working towards this aim the project team will strive to advance the underpinning science and technology of metal, polymer and biological 3D printing as well as surface treatments and functional coatings. These advances will have direct benefits for improving existing implant technologies in parallel to the end goal. A key goal is to have a subset of products ready for regulatory submission and clinical studies by the end of the research programme.

Funding Agency

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Spokes Award, DePuy Synthes / Johnson and Johnson

Programme

Spokes Award

Project Type

Industry Partnership

Person Months

60