IBEC to Develop Organs-on-a-Chip in Three Pathfinder Projects

IBEC’s Biosensors for Bioengineering research group, led by ICREA research professor Javier Ramón Azcón, will play an active role in three innovative projects funded by the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Pathfinder Open program. These projects—BuonMarrow, OMICSENS, and PHOENIX-OoC—aim to explore radically new technologies with the support of the EIC, promoting high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary scientific collaborations.

While each project has specific goals, they all leverage advanced technologies such as biosensors, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence.

In a world where the personalization of medicine is essential, BuonMarrow aims to enhance cancer treatments through personalized medicine. The project utilizes a chip with a replica of bone marrow to detect early relapses in lung cancer.

OMICSENS, on the other hand, is developing a nano-photonic biosensor that will enable the early detection of treatment resistance, enhancing medical diagnoses and facilitating telemedicine.

PHOENIX-OoC aims to revolutionize organ-on-chip technology through the innovative utilization of paper. The project involves the development of organ-on-chip devices constructed from folded paper, a more sustainable material, to simulate organic tissues. These devices integrate biosensors for continuous cell monitoring, enabling accurate pharmacological studies for drug screening.

“The technologies that we are exploring in our group, through projects such as the ones mentioned, represent fundamental advances at the frontier of biomedical research. We are employing biosensors, microfluidics, and tissue engineering to tackle critical challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, as well as in the evolution of organ-on-chip technology,” explains Javier Ramón.

These technologies not only represent significant scientific advances but also have the potential to directly impact patients’ lives by improving the efficacy of treatments, enabling earlier diagnoses, and facilitating the development of more accurate therapies.