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Reconstructive and regenerative medicine About theme
The theme focuses on the development and clinical translation of innovative diagnosis and reconstructive therapies, including regenerative medicine and nanomedicine, towards personalized care and cure of patients needing reconstructions of lost or damaged tissues. read moreReconstructive and regenerative medicine About theme
The theme focuses on the development and clinical translation of innovative diagnosis and reconstructive therapies, including regenerative medicine and nanomedicine, towards personalized care and cure of patients needing reconstructions of lost or damaged tissues. This is achieved by transdisciplinary research between research groups in the fields of cell biology, biomaterials and bioengineering, in close collaboration with clinical experts.Reconstructive and regenerative medicine (RRM) is a rapidly emerging field in translational medicine. It aims at improving quality of life and, if possible, extending lifespan through healthy aging, by developing reconstructive and curative therapies for diseases caused by structural anomalies, tissue damage, and ensuing organ dysfunction. Regenerative medicine takes full advantage of contemporary developments in stem cell and molecular biology, epigenetics, genomics and proteomics, biomaterials, and bioengineering. They emerge from advances in molecular diagnostics, image-guided therapies for minimally invasive treatments, nanomedicine, novel devices, advanced therapy medicinal products and drugs. Furthermore, both reconstructive and regenerative medicine benefit from new surgical techniques, new animal models, new implantable materials and prostheses, and a combination of innovative imaging techniques and surgical instruments and procedures. Local, national, and European expert teams and networks are increasingly supporting these developments in order to address medical issues covering the whole lifespan from prenatal and postnatal anomalies until old age. The theme RRM has as its common denominator reconstructive and regenerative medicine for individualized personal healthcare and treatment innovation. Within the RRM theme, research is centered around three main lines of research for the future, as a result of a strategy and focus process in 2017.
Objectives
- We will investigate clinical applications for musculoskeletal diseases.
- We will investigate applications for kidney diseases.
- We are investigating applications for the urogenital tract.
- We are looking for applications for skin diseases.
- We are investigating reconstructive surgical procedures and TERM applications.
Theme leader
dr. ing. Jeroen van den Beucken
Associate Professor ‘Translational Cell-Material Interactions'
+31 (0)6 21101724
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Lines of research
Surgeon of the future
Within this subtopic, research focuses on: (i) clinical expertise for complex problems and rare diseases in combination with basic and clinical research that will shape the future together with patients; (ii) with emerging robot- and data-driven techniques the focus is shifting to minimally invasive surgery (e.g. patient-tailored surgery through the use of advanced procedure planning and assistance by advanced imaging modalities and artificial intelligence; (iii) this constantly changing medical environment requires adaptation of daily clinical practice, and training of a new type of surgeon using new procedures and materials. Theme RRM uses the concept of the ‘Surgeon of the future’ and develops and implements technologies that revolutionize surgical procedures, including patient-specific virtual operation planning, 3D-printed anatomical models, simulated reconstructions, new animal models for surgical procedures and material evaluation, and the use of augmented reality.Materials to support self-healing
The research within this line focuses on: (i) cell-free implants and prostheses; (ii) functionalized material and smart scaffolds; (iii) 3D technologies. While the human body already contains an extraordinary capacity for natural self-repair, the removal of diseased or damaged tissues, organs, and body parts results in both physical ‘gaps’ and defects in function and appearance that need to be restored. Our theme develops tools that support and instruct the body’s endogenous healing and regenerative capacity to replace structural anomalies and lost or damaged tissues, which includes prosthetic tools, smart and patient-tailored scaffolds, implants, and biomaterials. The theme aims to apply acellular biomaterials (where possible) or intra-operatively prepared cellular constructs as these are easier to translate to the clinic than complex biomaterials.Regrowing tissues, organs and limbs
Here research includes: (i) functional tissue regeneration; (ii) organ regeneration; (iii) limb reconstructions. Self-healing is the regeneration of functional tissues and organs. In Europe, thousands of people are on a waiting list for organ transplantation (e.g. heart, kidney, liver, lungs), and often die prior to organ transplantation because of the shortage in healthy donor organs and the difficulty in finding a good match. Theme RRM combines expertise towards making several essential steps to fulfil the true potential of reconstructive and regenerative medicine. The theme combines all necessary know-how to take a leading position in functional restoration of underdeveloped tissues and missing limbs. Working towards normal functional outcome of limb replacement and additional innovations in a realistic matter.News, events, impact and organization
Answers in Dutch
Information on our research can also be found in Dutch on the Nationale Wetenschapsagenda website. The information here answers questions asked by Dutch citizens.
visit websiteCenters of clinical expertise
This theme is affiliated with nationally acknowledged Radboudumc expertise centers. Information might be only available in Dutch.
European Reference Networks
The theme is linked to the European Reference Networks.Coordinating team
The daily management of the theme Reconstructive & Regenerative Medicine is executed by the coordinating team.
see membersResearchers Reconstructive and regenerative medicine
See the researchers related to this theme.
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