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Co-culture System with Microfluidics and Onboard Sensors for Breast Cancer study

Project description

Breast cancer treatment with cutting-edge technology

Breast cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among women globally, with the disease’s complex, ever-changing nature posing significant challenges. A key factor in its progression is the tumour microenvironment (TME), particularly the inflammatory components such as cytokines. While targeted therapies have improved outcomes for some, treating aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a struggle. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CoSMOS-BC project is developing a microfluidic co-culture system that provides real-time cytokine detection within the TME. This advanced technology aims to simulate human biology more effectively, accelerating drug development, reducing animal testing, and paving the way for personalised, more effective breast cancer therapies.

Objective

Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, with incidence rates rising and a significant economic burden. The disease is characterized by its dynamic and heterogeneous nature, involving complex molecular, genetic, and cellular changes.
The tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly its inflammatory components such as cytokines, plays a crucial role in BC progression and treatment response. While targeted therapies have improved outcomes for some BC subtypes, significant challenges persist especially in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks specific molecular targets. The development of microfluidics devices that enable precise spatiotemporal control in cell culture offers new opportunities to simulate and study the TME more effectively than conventional methods. Such devices are crucial for modeling cancer progression and deepening our understanding of its biology. By mimicking human physiology, they provide a controlled platform for testing new therapies, reducing animal testing, and accelerating drug development. Additionally, they facilitate personalized medicine by recreating patient-specific tumor microenvironments and supporting tailored treatments. These advancements also bridge the gap between in vitro studies and clinical applications, driving oncology research forward and offering hope to millions of people. Aiming this, CoSMOS-BC proposes a microfluidic co-culture system with integrated sensors for real-time cytokine detection at the cellular level, designed to provide insights into intercellular communication and understand cellular dynamics within the TME. CoSMOS-BC has the potential to make significant strides in both the diagnosis and personalized treatment of breast cancer, paving the way for more effective and targeted therapeutic strategies.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 209 914,56
Address
BARRIO SARRIENA S N
48940 LEIOA
Spain

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Region
Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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Partners (1)

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