CARBON

The CarBon project aims at developing new treatment options for large bone defects and osteoarthritis. Within the project, LifeTec Group is aiming at developing disease models in order to assess new treatment options.

The quest

Mobility is important for human well-being and quality of life. Many people suffer from limitations in mobility because of traumatic injuries and diseases of the locomotor system that result in bone defects or osteoarthritis. The burden of musculoskeletal diseases in Europe is very high and expected to increase rapidly in the coming years. Despite the fact that the incidences of these conditions are due to rise as our population ages, the development of new treatments has not progressed sufficiently in the last 20 years.

What was and what will be done

LifeTec Group is taking part in CarBon Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN-ETN), a major European research and training consortium in the framework of H2020 programme, focused on understanding and controlling causes and pathways of cartilage to bone transition. The final aim is to learn how to modulate cartilage ossification and eventually exploit this knowledge for improving the treatment of large bone defects and osteoarthritis.

LifeTec Group’s osteochondral platform will serve as a means to create disease models of cartilage and bone on which different potential treatments developed within and outside the consortium can be evaluated.

This project will aid in alleviating the health effects and socio-economic effects of diseases affecting the mobility of more than 10% of the total population.

Furthermore, the use of LifeTec Group's ex-vivo model will significantly reduce the number of animal experiments needed to test treatments and therapies for large bone defects and osteoarthritis. 

Partners - CarBon research

• Erasmus University Medical Centre
  • Depts. of Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Special Dental Care & Orthodontics; Prof. dr. Gerjo van Osch, dr. Eric Farrell.

• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
  • Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section Dept. of Development & Regeneration; Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center; Prof. dr. ir. Liesbet Geris, Prof. dr. ir. Christa Maes

• IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Instituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro
  • Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine; Dr. Roberta Tasso, Prof. dr. Ranieri Cancedda

• Trinity College Dublin
  • Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. dr. ir. Daniel J. Kelly

• Klinikum der Universitaet zu Koeln
  • Dept. of Biochemistry Center for Pediatric Research, Experimental Neonatology; Dr. Frank Zaucke, Prof. dr. Bent Brachvogel

• Royal Veterinary College, London
  • Dept. of Comparative Biomedical Sciences; Prof. dr. Andrew Pitsillides

• Surgacoll Technologies Ltd.
  • Research & development; Dr. John Gleeson

• LifeTec Group BV
  • Research & development; Dr. ir. Linda Kock

Partner organisations

• Eli Lilly and Company Lilly
  • Mobility and Metabolism Drug Hunting Team. Research & development; Dr. Mark G Chambers

• Reumafonds (Dutch Arthritis Foundation)
  • Research & Innovation; Dr. Nienke Klomp

• Orthopaedic Research UK
  • Research; Dr. Arash Angadji

• Deutsche Arthrose-hilfe
  • Dr. Helmut Huberti