Tissue engineering (TE) is a rapidly emerging collection of technologies aimed at the regeneration of tissues and organs for the treatment of disease and injury. Whilst some success has already been achieved, demonstrating the potential for TE to make a significant impact on healthcare, there has been a marked lack of connectivity between the different components such that TE will not deliver this promise under current conditions. STEPS addresses this by introducing a systems approach to TE and associated technologies. It is our clear objective to provide a totally new infrastructure, based upon the hypothesis that the only way to successfully implement TE is to systematically link together all aspects of this multi-disciplinary process by applying the logistics of systems engineering. Specifically, the technological components will include cell sourcing and manipulation, novel biomaterial development, bioreactor design and the integration of TE constructs into the living host. The programme incorporates a determination of the socio-economic issues related to ethics and health economics. This will include an assessment of the public acceptability of these emerging technologies and the ability of private and public health insurance to pay for it without detracting from more traditional medical procedures. The Consortium has therefore designed an objective-driven approach, set to deliver radical innovations in the long term as well as new processes, methodologies and products in the short and medium term. The potential world market for TE products is estimated at €100 billion but a poorly integrated infrastructure will be incapable of delivering to this market. We believe that this approach will transform the TE industrial infrastructure. The Consortium comprises 23 partners from 13 European countries. It includes 6 industrial organisations, 4 of whom are SMEs and 17 academic centres. In order to tackle the development of such a highly innovative systems approach to TE, the contribution of a truly multi-disciplinary Consortium, of a critical mass in man power, and of substantial financial commitment, is required. These multidisciplinary skills are indeed found only within a European cooperation and all the partners are internationally identified centres of excellence in their respective areas of expertise.
A systems approach to tissue engineering processes and products – (STEPS)
Marcacci Maurilio
2005-01-01
Abstract
Tissue engineering (TE) is a rapidly emerging collection of technologies aimed at the regeneration of tissues and organs for the treatment of disease and injury. Whilst some success has already been achieved, demonstrating the potential for TE to make a significant impact on healthcare, there has been a marked lack of connectivity between the different components such that TE will not deliver this promise under current conditions. STEPS addresses this by introducing a systems approach to TE and associated technologies. It is our clear objective to provide a totally new infrastructure, based upon the hypothesis that the only way to successfully implement TE is to systematically link together all aspects of this multi-disciplinary process by applying the logistics of systems engineering. Specifically, the technological components will include cell sourcing and manipulation, novel biomaterial development, bioreactor design and the integration of TE constructs into the living host. The programme incorporates a determination of the socio-economic issues related to ethics and health economics. This will include an assessment of the public acceptability of these emerging technologies and the ability of private and public health insurance to pay for it without detracting from more traditional medical procedures. The Consortium has therefore designed an objective-driven approach, set to deliver radical innovations in the long term as well as new processes, methodologies and products in the short and medium term. The potential world market for TE products is estimated at €100 billion but a poorly integrated infrastructure will be incapable of delivering to this market. We believe that this approach will transform the TE industrial infrastructure. The Consortium comprises 23 partners from 13 European countries. It includes 6 industrial organisations, 4 of whom are SMEs and 17 academic centres. In order to tackle the development of such a highly innovative systems approach to TE, the contribution of a truly multi-disciplinary Consortium, of a critical mass in man power, and of substantial financial commitment, is required. These multidisciplinary skills are indeed found only within a European cooperation and all the partners are internationally identified centres of excellence in their respective areas of expertise.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
