FLAMIN-GO: From pathobioLogy to synoviA on chip: driving rheuMatoId arthritis to the precisioN medicine GOal
Horizon 2020
Next-generation organ-on-chip (RIA-LS) – DT-NMBP-23-2020
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 953121.
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FLAMIN-GO aims to develop a personalized next-generation synovia-on-chip, that, by effectively mimicking the complexity of the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) joint, will allow personalized clinical trials-on-chip. The solution will be based on the design and fabrication of a multicompartment microfluidic platform, for 3D culturing and perfusion of all the disease-relevant joint tissues.
It focuses on synovia, which is the pathogenetic targeted tissue, while also including the immune system, which sustains the disease, and cartilage and bone which are the end damaged tissues, leading to permanent disability.
Starting from individual patient biopsies, this model seeks to replicate RA joints, thus allowing to test and allocate the best on-market drug for that patient in 1-2 months starting from the biopsy. When validated, the platform will also be a turning point for:
i) pharma by enabling screening of new drugs reducing costs, time, and animal testing;
ii) translational research for the identification of new biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
FLAMIN-GO's consortium features a strong, well-balanced composition of hospital, academia, and industry partners, who cover with complementary expertise the whole value chain. In total, 13 partners from 9 countries are collaborating toward FLAMIN-GO's common goals. It gathers experts in the fields of rheumatology, material science, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, cell biology, and 3D modeling, in a cohesive, transdisciplinary, multi-sectorial approach taking on the challenge to drive RA personalized care.