What we do
About our project
A traumatic injury to the knee can mean more than just immediate pain, as it can lead to long-term discomfort, limited movement, and a higher chance of developing arthritis. Unfortunately, current treatments are often expensive, hard to access, and may only postpone the need for a knee prosthesis.
The LUMINATE project aims to have a significant clinical impact by developing innovative regenerative therapies that restore both cartilage and subchondral bone tissue after traumatic injuries. By enabling effective in situ regeneration, these treatments can improve joint function, reduce pain, and prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Ultimately, LUMINATE seeks to offer patients safer, less invasive alternatives to traditional surgical procedures such as joint replacements, improving their quality of life and long-term mobility.
The LUMINATE project aims to have a significant clinical impact by developing innovative regenerative therapies that restore both cartilage and subchondral bone tissue after traumatic injuries. By enabling effective in situ regeneration, these treatments can improve joint function, reduce pain, and prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Ultimately, LUMINATE seeks to offer patients safer, less invasive alternatives to traditional surgical procedures such as joint replacements, improving their quality of life and long-term mobility.
Our research focus
LUMINATE will develop a transformational 3D bioprinting unit, called EndoFLight, combining multimaterial and multiscale bioprinting toolheads to print photoresins laden with allogenic mesenchymal stromal cells and patient-derived chondrocytes directly in the site of injury, and recreating the functional architecture of healthy articular cartilage, calcified cartilage and bone. The bioprinted construct will be extensively characterized in vitro, ex vivo and in preclinical animal models.
Funds & Grants
HORIZON2020, Funded by the European Union
Collaborations
This is a consortium project coordinated by University of Pisa and ETH Zurich.
See website: https://luminateproject.eu/our-team/
