Press release -
Innovative cure for spina bifida: Politecnico di Milano receives ERC consolidator grant
Milan, 23 November 2023- Revolutionising the treatment of Spina Bifida Apertathrough the application of a new method based on tissue engineering, a branch of biomedical engineering that aims to reconstruct or regenerate damaged or pathological tissues and organs. Spina Bifida is a congenital disorder characterised by the failure of the spine to close properly during the development of the foetus, causing significant disabilities throughout the child's life. These needs are met by the 3D.FETOPRINTproject of Professor Alessandro Pellegata, lecturer at Politecnico di Milano, who received a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) and a funding of 2 million euros for this project.
The innovative approach of 3D.FETOPRINT involves the development of a gel containing stem cells, designed to be printed in real time during fetoscopic surgery through 3D bioprinting technology. This project, which combines biomedical engineering, tissue engineering and fetal surgery, aims to maximise the benefits for both the newborn and the mother. The heart of 3D.FETOPRINT therefore lies in the development of an innovative stem cell gel and the design of fetoscopic tools required to print it, conceived to promote healing and proper formation of fetal tissue. This revolutionary approach will allow surgeons to customise the procedure, tailoring it to the patient's specific needs.
After obtaining his degree and doctorate from Politecnico di Milano, Alessandro Pellegata worked until 2019 at the Institute of Child Health at University College London, studying organ regeneration for regenerative medicine applications aimed at treating congenital paediatric diseases. He then worked at the Italian Institute of Technology, developing innovative technologies for cardiac regeneration. Since 2021 he has been a lecturer at Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on regenerative medicine and the development of complex in-vitro models for personalised medicine.
The project was selected among more than 2100 proposals received by the ERC. This is a great result for Politecnico, considering that this year only 14.5% of the projects submitted have obtained funding. So Politecnico di Milano has now received a total of 70 ERC grants, 15 of which are Consolidator Grants. Within Horizon Europe, the European Union’s 2021-2027 framework project for research and innovation, Politecnico has, to date, achieved the outstanding result of 227 winning projects, 27 of which with the ERC, for a total value of over 114.50 million euros. Currently the application success rate of Politecnico is 22.77%, compared to about 15.9% at the European level. In terms of the number of funded projects, Politecnico di Milano is fifth out of all universities in the European Union.
ERC Consolidator Grants are intended for researchers with at least 7 years of experience since obtaining their PhD and with a very promising scientific profile. These are scholars who aim to consolidate their independence in research, strengthening their research group and continuing to develop a career in Europe. Funding can reach 2 million euros per single project, for a maximum duration of 5 years.
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Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological university which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers.
The University has always focused on the quality and innovation of its teaching and research, developing a fruitful relationship with business and productive world by means of experimental research and technological transfer.
Research has always been linked to didactics and it is a priority commitment which has allowed Politecnico Milano to achieve high quality results at an international level as to join the university to the business world. Research constitutes a parallel path to that formed by cooperation and alliances with the industrial system.
Knowing the world in which you are going to work is a vital requirement for training students. By referring back to the needs of the industrial world and public administration, research is facilitated in following new paths and dealing with the need for constant and rapid innovation. The alliance with the industrial world, in many cases favored by Fondazione Politecnico and by consortiums to which Politecnico belong, allows the university to follow the vocation of the territories in which it operates and to be a stimulus for their development.
The challenge which is being met today projects this tradition which is strongly rooted in the territory beyond the borders of the country, in a relationship which is developing first of all at the European level with the objective of contributing to the creation of a single professional training market. Politecnico takes part in several research, sites and training projects collaborating with the most qualified European universities. Politecnico's contribution is increasingly being extended to other countries: from North America to Southeast Asia to Eastern Europe. Today the drive to internationalization sees Politecnico Milano taking part into the European and world network of leading technical universities and it offers several courses beside many which are entirely taught in English.
