The number of people struggling with chronic illnesses is increasing significantly, largely due to ageing. Not only does this cause a lot of human suffering but it also drives up the costs of care.

Regenerative medicine holds the promise of really being able to alleviate chronic illnesses. This revolutionary and relatively new branch of science aims to enable to body to repair itself. A group of eminent material scientists, cell biologists, tissue technologists and medical scientists in the Netherlands are now joining forces to undertake groundbreaking research to make this a reality. Within ten years they want to have developed materials that can stimulate and orchestrate repair in the body, after which they slowly dissolve and disappear from the body.

The new materials will have to be able to seamlessly fit the molecular machinery of cells, and adapt when changes occur. High on the wish-list of the researchers is an imitation of the biological extracellular matrix (ECM), a structure that holds the cells together and steers their development towards functional tissue. For different kinds of tissue different variants of such a synthetic matrix are needed.

The scientists want to fathom how new tissue in the body forms in implanted matrices that slowly dissolve. They will be investigating this in the growth of new heart valves, new blood vessels, new kidneys, new bone and cartilage, and intervertebral discs in the human body.

Organ repair

A part of the research program is geared to the repair of complex organs and their working functioning. So not only is functional tissue like heart and kidney tissue needed but also, for instance, blood vessels. To this end the scientists want to develop ‘building blocks’ that can be assembled in the body to form more complex structures.

The research also focuses on repairing the heart following heart failure and on creating functional units for the kidney for patients with kidney failure. In addition, the researchers will be examining the complex interface of bone to adjacent soft tissues, like tendon and cartilage.

Since the patients who stand to benefit from this tend to be senior citizens and have other medical problems, the research collective will also try to steer the recovery processes among patients of different ages and with various illnesses. The aim is to be able to tailor therapies to individual patients and their specific situations.

According to TU/e-professor and program coordinator Carlijn Bouten, the potential impact of the MDR program is huge. “We will be undertaking long-term and in-depth fundamental research of biomaterials that will enable us in the future to treat chronic illnesses that cannot yet be cured. We expect our work to eventually save many people from the process of long-term illness. And save society the costs that would otherwise have gone into long-term care.”

Materials-Driven Regeneration will be led by six top-notch scientists, all with considerable experience in leading pioneering research projects. TU/e professor Carlijn Bouten (cardiovascular regeneration) is coordinating the program that connects the best scientists in the Netherlands in the fields of material science: (Bert Meijer, ICMS, TU/e), cell biology (Hans Clevers, Hubrecht Institute), tissue engineering (Clemens van Blitterswijk, Maastricht University), nephrology and vascular biology (Marianne Verhaar, UMC Utrecht) and biomaterials (Pamela Habibovic, Maastricht University).

Next generation

Apart from gaining fundamental scientific knowledge, the program also aims to train the next generation of scientists in the field of regenerative medicine, Bouten explains. “Dutch research in this field is unique, and world-leading, and it’s a position we want to reinforce.” Another important objective is for the findings of the program to ultimately be brought to market by companies so that patients, society and the economy can benefit.

Source: TU/e press team