Interviews

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at ASPHALION?

I provide support to the consortium partners, helping them navigate often-complex regulatory pathways to ensure the development of an innovative wound dressing that meets all regulatory relevant requirements with respect to manufacture, safety and effectiveness testing.

2. What are you currently working on within the scope of FORCE REPAIR?

In collaboration with the FORCE REPAIR partners, I am working on the preparation of the documentation for a meeting with the Innovation Task Force (ITF) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). At this meeting we will present our proposed approach to the development of our innovative wound dressing and initiate early dialogue with the regulators.

3. What motivates you personally?

The opportunity to apply my scientific knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of new medicines for the benefit of all.

4. What makes working in the FORCE REPAIR project special for you?

Working in the FORCE REPAIR project is special because it provides the opportunity to work, meet and collaborate with inspirational leaders in their respective fields and support them in their ambitious goal of developing a product with the potential to greatly improve the lives of people with chronic wounds.

5. What do you do when you're not working?

One of my favourite things to do when not doing research is walking and playing with my dog.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at Biogipuzkoa?

Biogipuzkoa is involved in all work packages of the FORCE REPAIR project, but its main contributions are in WP1 - characterisation, release and biodegradability of the bio-inks (Tasks 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6) -and WP5 - scale-up and production of the bio-ink and 3D-printed dressings under GMP-like conditions (tasks 5.3 and 5.4).

2. What is your research focus at Biogipuzkoa?

My research is focused on the preparation of innovative delivery systems that address unmet medical needs.

3. What expertise you bring into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting?

I bring a consolidated experience in producing and characterising various drug delivery platforms such as 3D printable hydrogels, (nano)emulsions, and polymer dispersions, at both small and pilot scale. This field excites me because it provides innovative solutions that improve human health and well-being, which deeply motivates my work as a researcher.

4. What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of biomaterials for wound healing?

I have always been a curious person, constantly wondering how many things around me work. That curiosity led me to study Chemistry, and during my studies, I realised I wanted to dedicate myself to research. The lack of effective treatments that can simultaneously address the various challenges of chronic wounds encourages me to work with biomaterials for wound healing.

5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

If I could have any superpower, it would be to heal sick people, especially children.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at Inserm?

Our tasks focus on fabricating microfluidic devices to validate the pro-regenerative potential—both neurogenic and vasculogenic—of 3D bioprinted functional bioinks in vitro. Additionally, leveraging our histological expertise, we will assess their in vivo effects following implantation in large animal models. Through these efforts, Inserm plays a key role in advancing the FORCE REPAIR project’s mission to develop a smart, multifunctional, and cost-effective solution for chronic wound treatment.

2. What expertise you bring into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting?

My colleagues and I, at Inserm, have a strong background in biofabrication, bioprinting, and bioink development—expertise we actively contribute to this project. I find this field exciting because biofabrication holds immense potential for developing personalised approaches to chronic wound treatment and accelerating innovative solutions for unmet medical needs.

3. What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of Bioprinting/biofabrication?

Like most researchers, I was drawn to science by an innate curiosity and a constant need for creativity. Bioprinting and biofabrication felt like a natural fit for me, sitting at the intersection of biology, materials science, chemistry, and technology. This field has allowed me to nurture my passion for biomedical engineering and its transformative application in the medical field.

4. What makes working in the FORCE REPAIR project special for you?

FORCE REPAIR, as a collaborative European project, brings together diverse countries, expertise, perspectives, and ambitions. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and challenges existing paradigms. It has also been a fresh start for me, deepening my understanding of the challenges faced by patients with chronic wounds and the urgent need to develop better treatments to improve their quality of life.

5. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

If I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to speak every language and understand every sign.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at IDONIAL?

One of my tasks in the development of the bio-printer involves designing and developing the electrical distribution and control signal components, for which I apply methodologies for designing electrical schematics. Additionally, I select electrical/electronic components and integrate them according to the electrical schematic to make the printer functional. Finally, I conduct validation tests and ensure the proper functioning of the electrical components of both the power and control systems.

2. Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?

No, I have previously worked on other projects funded by the EU. It is a unique opportunity for collaboration among multiple countries and professionals, promoting research and the sharing of knowledge, which is highly relevant to our society. Collaboration among European countries allows for global knowledge growth and achieving common goals. These projects are based on previous research and consensus proposals, providing researchers with a viable exploration path with much work still to be done.

3. What makes working in the FORCE REPAIR project special for you?

Participating in the development of the bioprinter involves integrating different devices and working closely with professionals from various backgrounds. This collaborative effort provides opportunities to expand knowledge and explore unfamiliar subjects. Moreover, engaging in the project allows for valuable feedback on the printer's performance and potential improvements for working with different materials.

4. In your opinion, what impact does FORCE REPAIR have? What is special about the project?

The bioprinter's impact is substantial due to its versatility in handling diverse materials for biomaterial and 3D printing research. Its compatibility with 3D design files permits intricate layer-by-layer experimentation, facilitating the development of custom dressings tailored to individual patients' requirements. This patient-specific approach reduces waste and cuts down on material expenses.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at JOAN (JOANNEUM RESEARCH FORSCHUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH)?

Within the FORCE REPAIR team, my specific tasks involve developing an accelerated in vivo ageing model for future studies on age-related diseases such as non-healing wounds. Moreover, I am contributing to the in vivo testing strategy of the innovative wound dressing developed within the project to ensure its effectiveness.

2. What expertise do you bring into the project?

I am a biochemist by training and specialized in the skin wound healing processes during my master's thesis. Therefore, I have expertise in in vivo wound healing models and mechanisms of wound healing. The field is thrilling due to its rapid pace of advancements and dynamic transformations that are impacting countless individuals. This is why I am convinced there has never been a more exciting time to be a biochemist.

3. What made you go into science? Why did you choose the topic of wound healing and tissue regeneration?

Fascination with the intricacies of biology and chemistry and a desire to contribute to healthcare led me to pursue science. I am fascinated with the power of basic research to develop novel therapeutic targets and solutions that have a direct impact on improving lives. Wound healing and tissue regeneration captivated me due to the masterly performances that are accomplished by the organism in the course of these processes.

4. What does it mean to you to be part of the FORCE REPAIR project?

It's inspiring to collaborate with a diverse group of scientists, all united by a shared goal and dedication. Each person's unique contribution plays a crucial role in creating something meaningful. The shared effort is what makes being part of this project so fulfilling.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at Vicomtech?

Within the Force Repair project, Vicomtech is involved in software (SW) development. We are developing two SWs: a SW for mechanical behaviour prediction and a SW for 3D biomaterials trajectory modelling. The SW for the mechanical behaviour prediction involves the design of a new software for the mechanical simulation of the wound dressing model. Given the flexibility to arrange the material distribution and the infill patterns to build the wound dressing models, a computational tool that estimates the contractile properties of specific spatial/geometric configurations is required. In this way, researchers and end-users of the bioprinting platform can conduct simulation-based design processes without costly trial-and-error model fabrications, which is critical to ease the transfer to the market of the project integral solution. Vicomtech will develop a tool based on efficient mechanical simulation approaches, which will be adjusted to replicate the contraction proprieties observed with simplified patterns and then scaled up to predict the behaviour of the full wound dressing model. The 3D biomaterial trajectory modelling SW involves the design and development of a new high-level SW for customised 3D printing trajectories. This CAD/CAM software will include all functions, from CAD model parameterization to GCode generation, to build the model, making it easier for end-users to fabricate the prototypes for this project and during the future exploitation of the project results. The software will include custom algorithms to generate spatial configurations of the materials and infill patterns that maximise the required isotropic or anisotropic (depending on the wound type to treat) mechanical properties.

2. Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?

This is my first experience working on an EU-funded project and it is actually pretty exciting. Before, I just worked on projects that involved local collaborators and small consortiums. The Force Repair project is being really enriching for me. I was involved from the very beginning of the project even in the proposal writing stage and how the meetings were managed was enriching for me. Being part of Force Repair allowed me to collaborate with researchers, institutions, and organisations from different EU member states. This has offered me the opportunity to work with diverse teams and gain insights from various perspectives. I am a biomedical engineer and I am really interested in applying science to biomedical science-related topics. On a daily basis, in Vicomtech, I mainly work on software development. The participation in Force Repair has facilitated networking with professionals, experts, and stakeholders from across Europe who work directly with biomaterials, cells... This networking enables me to keep in contact with the interesting fields of biology and material sciences, among others. Another really interesting thing is the Force Repair communication committee. As a junior researcher, during the communication committee meetings, I have the opportunity to learn lots of things about how to correctly disseminate the project and the results and think about different ways to reach possible future clients - it is really enriching.

3. What are you currently working on within the scope of FORCE REPAIR?

Within the Force Repair project, Vicomtech is involved in the software (SW) development. Two SWs will be developed: a SW for mechanical behaviour prediction and a SW for 3D biomaterials trajectory modelling. I am involved in the development of the second one. This SW is mainly a CAD/CAM software that includes the design of the wound dressing, the definition of the material distribution, and the micropattern and creates the file that would include all the instructions for the bioprinter to print the wound dressing. My specific tasks are mainly based on understanding the requirements of this use case and implementing them in the final SW. My day-to-day work involves adapting our software library to get a flexible SW that would contain all the tools to enable the design of a multi-material wound dressing where the materials are distributed as required and the micropatterns are combined in a way that would enable the correct forces in the skin. The biomaterials used in bioprinting applications have low retraction properties and are complex to print, keeping a correct shape fidelity. This is why I am working on printing trajectory optimisation, focusing on generating trajectories that minimise overlapping paths and avoid unnecessary stopping points. Our SW output is a GCODE file, a file that includes all the instructions for the bioprinter. I am also involved in tasks that involve adapting those instructions for the bioprinter that is being developed by Idonial during the Force Repair project. We are now in the second year of the project; we already have the first version of the SW that includes the tools to design a multi-material model and generate the instructions for the bioprinter. During the following months, I will continue refining the SW and adapting it to follow the correct regulatory guidelines.

4. What motivates you personally?

I studied biomedical engineering; I have always been interested in biology and human science but I also found programming fascinating. In my job, I participate in projects focused on dealing with global health problems, such as chronic wounds. As a software developer, I generally work on coding tasks. I will not find the best biomaterial to avoid wound inflammation, or I will not discover the correct antibiotic drug. However, I believe I can provide scientists who work on discovering cures with SW tools that will enable more complex studies, more robust and less time-consuming. There is no doubt that complex research projects such as Force Repair require multidisciplinary teams. I am motivated to be involved in Force Repair because I think, in Vicomtech, we can provide the consortium with interesting tools to reach the project goal.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at Betthera?
Our tasks is to evaluate the proposed technology using the health technology assessment (HTA) method, covering all the properties, effects, and impacts of the proposed technology. Part of our activities will first be a systematic review of studies of economic effectiveness of treatments of chronic wounds. Subsequently, the HTA report will be compiled, including a health economic evaluation and modeling impact on society, business model and marketability of the technology.

2. What is your research focus at Betthera?
Health technology assessment, literature reviews and meta-analyses, cost-effectiveness analysis, budget impact models, cost-consequence analyses and societal impact.

3. What expertise you bring into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting?
Understanding the socioeconomic impact of health solutions allows policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers to implement more effective strategies for improving public health. By identifying the most significant factors influencing health outcomes, resources can be allocated more efficiently to address the root causes of health disparities.

5. What are you currently working on within the scope of FORCE REPAIR?
We are working on a systematic review of studies of economic effectiveness of treatments of chronic wounds. The aim of this review is to identify the costs and effects of currently used care alternatives. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed technology, it is first necessary to know the comparator, i.e. current state of care in detail.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at UNIPV?
As a UNIPV partner, I am responsible for characterizing the combined bio-inks regarding rheological properties. In addition, the main tasks I am working on are the in-vitro (biological substitutes) and ex-vivo (porcine dermal tissue) evaluation of the bioadhesive properties of hydrogels using two specific tests which are rheological synergism and tensile test. In addition, I will assess the shrinking forces after UV treatments of the hydrogels and the nanomechanics of the bio-inks.

2. What is your research focus at UNIPV?
The focus of my research is the production of stimuli-responsive scaffolds to treat wound healing. Currently, I’m working on the design and development of fibrous scaffolds produced via centrifugal spinning, intended for skin tissue engineering. These scaffolds are loaded with a conductive material, which should promote the passage of the electrical current, and, after skin electrical stimulation, it should enhance cell regeneration and adhesion and play an antibacterial activity.

3. What expertise you bring into the project? Why is this field of research so exciting?
Our team can bring into the project its deep experience and knowledge of the evaluation of rheological measurements and bioadhesion using various equipment and methods. In addition, we are confident in the physicochemical characterization of biomaterials.
Similarly to FORCE REPAIR, we are carrying on several projects that focus on the development of scaffolds, intended specifically for skin wound healing.

4. Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?
FORCE REPAIR is my first experience working on an EU-funded project. I believe that these programs offer a great opportunity to support professional and personal growth. Getting to work with foreign people, coming from different organizations is inspiring. In FORCE REPAIR, partners are companies, universities and institutions and this heterogeneity allows to merging of different points of view, backgrounds and expertise to obtain the best for the future of patients.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at Akribes Biomedical?
Within Akribes, I am responsible for overseeing clinical collaborations set up for the collection of wound exudates from chronic wound patients. The wound exudates are the core aspect of the assay platform developed at Akribes, which allows for the testing of potential wound therapeutics using a personalized medicine approach.
I am also responsible for communication with Force Repair partners and for preparing and presenting the data obtained by Akribes within the Force Repair project.

2. What expertise you bring into the project? – follow-up: Why is this field of research so exciting?
I am a cell biologist by training with an additional four years of experience in biotech. In Akribes, I am involved in scientific research and the development of drug and in vitro diagnostics, including regulatory aspects, which are all centered around chronic wounds. The development of efficacious therapies for chronic wound patients has not been successful for the last decades. The vision of making a real difference for chronic wound patients is what makes this field of research so exciting.

3. Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?
This is my first experience working on an EU-funded project. I value the focus given to the multidisciplinary approach, covering basic product development, early-stage regulatory compliance, and project dissemination. I like the emphasis given to the project's outcomes, including, not only the product itself but also new knowledge and new collaboration opportunities.
I believe that the experience I have gained in these multiple areas gives me the possibility to contribute and interact with several of the very diverse sub-projects within the FORCE REPAIR project.

4. What motivates you personally?
Since I joined Akribes I have become aware of the burden that chronic wounds place on patients and society. Sadly, I also realized that the treatment options for these patients do not meet their needs. They seem to have been forgotten by our society, making chronic wounds another type of orphan disease. In my scientific career, I have always preferred working on less popular topics, where I felt I could make a much greater impact. In this regard, working on chronic wounds suits me well.

1. What are your specific tasks in the FORCE REPAIR team at EWMA?
Our tasks revolve around dissemination and communication activities. Communication efforts span across our multiple platforms such as the annual EWMA conference, social media channels, and our newsletter. Moreover, we contribute to the Communication Committee to enhance project outreach and engagement. Our network of wound care professionals will be used to understand the priorities and needs of health care professionals and patients so that FORCE REPAIR reflects the needs of various communities.

2. Can you explain the scope of work of EWMA and how do you reach your objectives and goals?
EWMA’s mission is to bring together key stakeholders in wound care, facilitating the implementation of cost-effective approaches on all aspects of wound management. Within this framework, and in alignment with my objectives, EWMA envision to accelerate translational research and to support the identification of unmet clinical needs and link basic/applied research and clinical practice, therefore fostering the development of new technologies and better therapeutic options.

3. Could you please share your thoughts on what you believe are the major challenges facing wound care today?
Wound care is facing several challenges spanning different areas, ranging from improvement of clinical practice, healthcare accessibility and use of resources, to strengthening education and enhancing healing outcomes. These are related to organizational requirements and the existing gap among the key intervenient (healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, researchers, regulatory entities, industry, policy makers) that ultimately hinder the advance of innovative ideas for new technologies and products.

4. Is this your first experience working on an EU-funded project? What is your opinion about this programme?
No, I have had previous experience as partner or coordinator of EU-funded projects. As an academic researcher I believe this programme is key to advance the European Research and Innovation Eco-system, including in the field of wound care. By fostering the collaboration between key stakeholders such as academics, healthcare institutions, industry, and organizations such as EWMA, this programme potentiates the development and translation of technologies/therapies with increasing efficacy.