PRIN-MIND

The MIND project aims at overcoming the current lack of models for the study of the physiological conditions associated with aging through the development –by advanced bioengineering technologies- of in vitro dynamic models, able to reproduce the physio-pathological conditions of aged tissues, while respecting the 3 Rs (“Replacement, Refinement, Reduction”) principle of animal testing.

The multidisciplinary consortium, composed mainly of bioengineers, flanked by clinicians, biologists, experts in the regulatory aspects of health and physical and electronic engineers, will pool its varied expertise and knowledge to design, realize, model and characterize new systems for the investigation of ageing and age related diseases, with reference to four tissues which are particularly compromised by age related degeneration: cardiac, bone, epithelial and neural tissue.

The project represents a first step towards the long-term goal of generating reliable biomimetic models of tissues for the study of pathological conditions and the development of pharmacological strategies, reducing animal and clinical testing, as well as the time and costs associated with them.

Participants