The musculoskeletal tissue is the framework of our lives. It holds, shapes and supports freedom of movement of our body and protects the crucial internal organs (brain, heart and lungs). It is responsible for our body’s immunity by providing source of stem cells (bone marrow) that readily transform to immune system cells fighting pathogens, so any damage it poses significant threat to the individual’s quality of life. The patient’s immune system does not only play crucial role in fighting various pathogens but is also vital in inducing normal healing of damaged tissues. Patients, especially with prolonged diseases, ranging from diabetes to HIV tend to have decreasing capacity for healing after injuries due to their compromised immune system. In this project we aim to develop 3D-printed materials instructing the immune systems via the immune cell-material interactions through controlled mechanical properties and biochemical cues organised in 3D manner (i.e. biofabrication using additive manufacturing techniques) for treatment of musculoskeletal defects in patients with immune-system imbalance. Chemical approaches combining synthetic self-assembling peptides and hyaluronic acid together with 2D nanomaterials will be explored for fabrication of such well-defined printable scaffolds with high shape fidelity and gradient-like architecture. In a second step, we hypothesise that reprogramming of patient’s own immune cells (ex-vivo) using the developed printed materials and a microfluidic approach can be achieved through the stimulation of patient’s immune cells interacting with the designed material surfaces to produce the exosomes and signalling molecules (cytokines). Successfully harvested biomolecules would hold potential for personalized therapies in immune-deficient patients and could be re-applied using standard practises and injectable bio-fillers.

The aim of the ExcellMater project is to advance the research and innovation capacity of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade (FTM) in the area of biomaterials engineering by efficient knowledge and skills twinning activities and by creation of a sustainable collaborative network with leading international institutions: Aalto University, Finland, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Italy, and AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland. The project addresses a translational gap in development and utilization of novel biomaterials in medical devices, arising from the lack of relevant procedures and expertise at FTM regarding biological and clinical evaluation of biomaterials, regulatory issues and IPR exploitation strategies. The twinning activities will include short-term staff exchange missions, site expert visits, workshops, summers schools, specialized seminars with dedicated actions towards early stage researchers as well as trainings of FTM staff in project proposal writing and project management. The actions also involve the local partners in the areas of medical and life sciences, innovation and technology transfer organizations and industry to build a functional ecosystem around FTM for successful translation of scientific results from bench-to-bedside. This will assist in overarching the gap by increasing the S&T capacity of FTM and its staff research profile. Efficient dissemination and communication actions will be complemented with an international conference on biomaterials and medical devices as the final project event to increase the FTM national and international visibility, attract major biomedical stakeholders and raise the biomedical awareness of the society at large. The project will ultimately impact on establishment of successful translation of novel solutions to personalized medical devices contributing to foundation of a high-tech biomedical sector in Serbia.

Early stage researchers (ESR) from low performing countries are less competitive in the international scientific area than ESR's form internationally-leading counterparts. This is strongly related not only to the applicants itself, but also to the environment in which they were seeded as next generation researchers - meaning Universities. The competitiveness in scientific area is related to well measurable indicators, such as impact factors, papers in high-ranking journals, H-index, competitive funding, etc. Hence RISEus2 project´s Overall Objective is to significantly strengthen the research management and administration skills of RTU RBIDC leading staff and increase the research profile of ESR hosted in RTU RBIDC in the area of biomaterials development for bone tissue replacement and regeneration based on the long-term strategic cooperation between RTU RBIDC and three internationally leading counterparts: AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland (ARI), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse CIRIMAT, France (INPT-CIRIMAT) and FORM-Lab Frankfurt Orofacial Regenerative Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany (GUF). The purpose of RISEus2 is to create links and provide training which will ensure that RTU RBIDC will gain new knowledge and approaches of biomaterials research planning, implementation and exploitation. This will include methods, tools, equipment and effective infrastructure exploitation necessary to develop excellence in biomaterials research, that will boost the cooperation with the industry, thus becoming internationally competitive and attractive. The main RISEus2 activities include two way collaborative visits, mobility of staff, summer and winter schools, workshops at partner institutions, strengthening the visibility and cooperation with industry and intensive dissemination and outreach activities.

The Rudolfs Cimdins Riga Biomaterials Innovations and Development Centre (RBIDC) is a part of Rigas Tehniska Universitate, Latvia (RTU). The RTU RBIDC research team is composed of chemists, chemical engineers and materials scientists. RTU RBIDC scientists are working on well-defined materials science research areas for bone tissue replacement and regeneration. There has been a long lasting cooperation between RTU RBIDC and the Latvijas Organiskas Sintezes Instituts (LIOS) on investigations of biomaterials developed in RTU RBIDC. LIOS has vast experience in preclinical testing of biological/pharmacological activity in in vitro and in vivo systems. Biomaterials developed at RTU RBIDC, in cooperation with clinicians from the Rigas Stradina Universitate, Latvia (RSU) and Riga Stradins University Institute of Stomatology (RSU IS), which starting from 15 June, 2018 has been added to project as a new partner, have been tested in clinical practice in more than 400 patient cases. RTU RBIDC research fields and scientific capacity will be the core for establishing a new Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE) and by adding the crucial experience of RSU, RSU IS and LIOS research fields, full-cycle development of biomaterials will be covered. Establishment of Centre of Excellence will provide an opportunity to combine expertise and infrastructure, to create critical mass and excel at specific field and create spill-over effects between different fields. Within the formation of critical mass in research and development, also the cooperation between industry and research organisations will be encouraged, leading to technology transfer and delivery of new products in the market. Hence BBCE project´s main objective is to establish a joint Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence for advanced biomaterials development based on the long-term strategic cooperation between AO--Forschungsinstitut Davos, Switzerland (ARI) and Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen Nuernberg, Germany (FAU) on the one hand and RTU RBIDC, LIOS, RSU IS and RSU on the other hand.