Multidisciplinary European training network for development of personalized anti-infective medical devices combining printing technologies and antimicrobial unctionality

Akronim: PRINT-AID
Nuner.: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016
Konkurs: European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 722467
Jednostka finansująca: Horizon 2020
Kierownik projektu: dr Karita Peltonen, University of Helsinki
Funkcja: consortium member
Czas realizacji: 2016 - 2020

Project description

The mission of PRINT-AID is to provide multi-disciplinary training in microbial biofilms,
3D-printing technologies and in vivo infection models. PRINT-AID consortium will offer a training programme for early-stage researchers to exploit the power of emerging technologies in order to explore innovative routes to counteract biofilm caused infections in medical devices. Our aim is to proof the value of developing a new generation of safer 3D-printed personalised medical devices with antimicrobial functionalities. We are going to use investigational drugs which inhibit bacterial colonisation or kill bacteria. These compounds will be incorporated in the medical device structure itself during the 3D printing process and they are expected to be released from there during a long period of time. By using 3D-printing, we can also customise the devices to fit the needs of the patients. The chances of this project to provide a safer alternative for pharma devices are really significant. In the project, state-of-the-art printing technologies will be combined with new in vitro and in vivo biofilm models as well as new tools for data integration and standardisation. The project brings together the leaders of their own areas in the personalised medicine and medical devices sector. The students have an opportunity to work both in the collaborating companies and in academia.
The project also offers great opportunities for young researchers to move from academy into industry and vice versa, and get exposed to both environments.