Principal Investigator at ASE/MST: Prof. Pasi Kallio
Duration of the project: 1.7.2011 – 31.12.2014
Project description:
The project is a part of a strategic Tekes project “Human Spare Parts” of BioMediTech. The project develops novel stem cell based solutions for tissue defects, invalidity and death caused by bone, neural, retinal and cardiac diseases and trauma. The program combines top-level expertise in microsystems, automation, sensor technology, biomaterials, biomedical engineering and stem cells to develop technologies and solutions leading to new therapies and drugs in the future. The program has over 18 M€ funding for years 2011-2014.
Our role in the project is twofold: we develop microfluidic cell cultivation environments, or microbioreactors, and electro-mechanical cell stimulation systems.
In cell cultivation environments, our aim is to develop active miniaturized biomimetic systems which
• mimic body conditions to keep cells alive,
• promote cell functionalities,
• allow drug exposure,
• provide means to characterize cell responses,
• mimic disease conditions.
In electro-mechanical cell stimulation systems, our aim is to develop a cell stretching system which can be integrated with a microfluidic perfusion system.
Funding:
• Tekes
Research Partners:
• Professor Jukka Lekkala BioMeditech / Department of Automation Science and Engineering,
• Professor Minna Kellomäki BioMediTech / Department of Biomedical Engineering,
• Professor Jari Hyttinen BioMediTech / Department of Biomedical Engineering
• PhD Heli Skottman BioMediTech / Regea
• PhD Katriina Aalto-Setälä BioMediTech / Regea
• PhD Susanna Narkilahti BioMediTech / Regea
• PhD Susanna Miettinen BioMediTech / Regea
• D.Tech Juho Väisänen, project coordinator at BioMediTech
Personnel at ASE/MST:
• MSc Joose Kreutzer (microfluidic perfusion, cell stretching)
• MSc Antti-Juhana Mäki (automation of microbioreactors)
• BSc Samu Hemmilä (PDMS surfaces)
• BSc Feihu Zhao (cell stretching devices)
• BSc Lassi Sukki (growth guiding microstructures and environments)