Partners
University of Pavia (UNIPV) -COORDINATOR
SilkFusion is coordinated by Prof. Alessandra Balduini, head of the “Laboratory of Study on Megakaryocyte Function” which is based at the University of Pavia, one of the world’s oldest academic institutions.
The laboratory is located at the ‘Istituto Golgi-Spallanzani’, in the Department of Molecular Medicine, a multidisciplinary department in which basic and clinical research integrate to bridge the gap between the two halves to further the understanding of the molecular basis of several major diseases and develop new diagnosis and therapies.
Alessandra Balduini, has a broad background in hematology, with specific training and expertise in research of stem cell and megakaryocyte biology, as well as in the clinical aspects of the diseases related to platelets and clotting processes.
Alessandra Balduini’s research focuses on how the different components of the bone marrow microenvironment regulate platelet production. In the last decade, she developed the groundwork for modelling human bone marrow by bioengineering a new 3D model made of silk that fully recreates the physiology of the living bone marrow niche environment and allows functional platelet production ex vivo.
Laboratory of Study on Megakaryocyte Function
University of Pavia
Department of Molecular Medicine
Alessandra Balduini’s research
University of Cambridge (UCAM)
The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s oldest universities and leading academic centers, and a self-governed community of scholars. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.
Many of the University’s customs and unusual terminology can be traced to roots in the early years of the University’s long history, and this booklet looks to the past to find the origins of much that is distinctive in the University of today.
Dr. Ghevaert’s research group is embedded in the Department of Haematology and based at the NHSBT Blood Centre on the development of stem cell research towards cellular therapies and human application on the biomedical campus. Dr. Ghevaert is a Principle Investigator of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute supported by the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Wellcome Trust.
http://www.haem.cam.ac.uk/staff/senior-staff/cedric-ghevaert/
Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM-IGR)
INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale) is the only public research organization in France entirely dedicated to human health. Its objective is to promote the health of all by advancing knowledge about life and disease, treatment innovation, and public health research.
Since its foundation in 1964, INSERM has played a part in many key medical advances. The Institute is distinguished by both the scientific excellence of its staff, and by its ability to provide benchtop to bedside translational research.
INSERM is the leading European academic biomedical research institution, and with nearly 12,000 publications a year; is second in the world only to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Hana Raslova, Research Director (DR2 INSERM) since 2015, is on the head of the Team “From hematopoietic stem cell to megakaryocyte” of the Unit INSERM UMR 1170 localized at Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France, which is the biggest European Centre dedicated to cancer treatment. The goal of the team is to understand the mechanism of decrease in blood platelets in different disorders to permit new therapeutic approaches. The team comprises together 33 members, some of them will directly participate to the proposal.
https://www.gustaveroussy.fr/en
Integrated Systems Engineering Srl (ISENET)
ISENET, thanks to its participation in several EU Stem Cells research projects (e.g. NeuroScreen, NeuroStemCell, NeuroStemCellRepair), has developed extensive know-how in the characterization, quality control and cryopreservation of neuronal iPSC. Presently is the custodian of very valuable Stem Cells lines (properly consented) derived from European Leading Scientists, which have been characterized, quality controlled and distributed by ISENET. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) biobanks are an invaluable resource for basic and clinical research since they provide a sustainable supply of accessible cell lines that meet high quality and safety standards. iPSCs are particularly useful to understand disease mechanisms, models for drug development and generation of novel clinical therapies. However, regardless of the end use, it is important that every step in the whole process, starting from the origin to the cell line throughout expansion and manipulation, must be performed and rigorously recorded. ISENET participates actively in the major Biobanking International Societies (ISBER, ESBB and BBMRI) and is an active member of the GET Consortium and chair of the Biobanking and Biosecurity Faculty with the objective to establish an AID Biobank in Africa (for Ebola biospecimen). It is also a member of the Qatar Biobanking Committee supporting its Population Biobank.
Pasquale De Blasio, is an international manager with more than 35 years experience in industrial and academic positions. He is the founder and CEO of Integrated Systems Engineering srl; is very active member of the International Society of Biological and Environmental Biorepositories (www.isebr.org) and founder president of European, Middle Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB)
CELLINK
CELLINK is a 3D Bioprinting company and global leader in Bioinks for bioprinting of human tissue and organs. CELLINK has created one of the world’s first universal Bioinks, today used by many of the world’s most well-reputed research institutions.
Additionally, CELLINK offers several ready to use Bioinks, and custom-made Bioinks to suit specific tissues or cells, along with ready to use cell-mixer configurations for the printing of cellularized constructs. CELLINK currently offers three bioprinters; the INKREDIBLE, the INKREDIBLE+ and the BIO X.
BIO X is the new go-to bioprinter for life science companies, researchers and innovators who work with bioprinting. Built to meet the needs of today’s bio-scientists, BIO X allows the user to orchestrate the intricate process of building human tissues. BIO X is the most user friendly bioprinter on the market and a complete standalone product.
Knowledge Innovation Market S.L. (KIM)
KIM helps companies, research centers, investors and public administrations to improve the return on their R&D investments. It is member of The Knowledge Agents Alliance, together with MRI International and Knowledge Investors (KI). KIM is a reference entity in innovation, knowledge transfer and implementation of scientific technological structures worldwide, whose mission is to improve the competitiveness and the technological progress of companies through specialized services, positioning and consolidating a knowledge transfer model at global level.
KIM has developed a portfolio of services focused on satisfying the needs of all actors in the innovation system of the regions in which it operates, from science and technology parks, companies and business associations, to universities, research centers, including public institutions and public administrations.
The aim of KIM and its network of collaborators is to cover all phases of the value chain of implementation of dynamization models on innovation, internationalization, infrastructures, business growth and technology and knowledge transfer.