The PAST4FUTURE project has been the initiator of many more research project that have been funded during the last years. The organotypic skin models are in great demand for so many fields of interest and its applicability will only grow in the coming decade. We are extremely proud to list the following projects that have been granted during 2022, despite the extremely strong competition and low funding percentages. All projects are based on the development or implementation of 3D organotypic skin models in skin science and dermatology.

Next Generation Immunodermatology (NGID). Funded by the Dutch Research Council-National Science Agenda. Total project budget 11.5 million euro. Project period 04/2023-04/2029

Twinning for intensified enzymatic processes for production of prebiotic-containing functional food and bioactive cosmetics (TwinPreBioEnz). Funded by the European Commission. Total project budget 1.5 million euro. Project period 09/2022-09/2025

Digging deep for filaggrin’s function in regulating epidermal barrier formation. Funded by the LEO Foundation. Total project budget DKK 3.9 million euro. Project period 05/23-05/26

Skin Microbial Devices (SKINDEV). Funded by the European Commission –Pathfinder Open. Total project budget 3.3 million euro. Project period 02/2023-02/2027

Luca Meesters and Noa van den Brink, both PhD students from the lab of Ellen van den Bogaard, presented their research at the annual meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) and at the satellite symposium of the European Epidermal Barrier Research Network (E2BRN), both in Amsterdam. It was great to meet with old friends and make create new opportunities for collaborations.

From the PAST4FUTURE project, results were presented by Luca on new organotypic models for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Noa demonstrated a novel method for easy quantitative analysis of skin barrier function in organotypic skin models.

Their abstracts can be found in the abstract book, search for number 194 and 195. These manuscript are in preparation and will be posted here when finalized. If you are interested in the work, reach out!

On Friday 20 May, the consortium held its first in-person/partially remote user committee meeting at the Radboudumc, The Netherlands. In total 13 partners attended the meeting, in a great mix of scientists, biotech companies, funding agencies, and societal organizations. It was so nice seeing each other finally 18 months after the project kick-off.

In depts and frank discussions on project outcomes, project progress and user wishes came to the table and a lot of interaction fostered the scientific discussions on the first results generated in the project. Ideas for better outreach (social media engagements) of the project and new interactions with other projects (like the NWA-ORC and EU-networks) were also introduced.

Exciting first scientific publications are on their way, but still a lot of work is required for the making of new immortal cell lines and improved keratinocyte differentiation from iPSCs. However, the tools for characterizing them, like functionality vs. state-of-the-art omics-technologies (e.g. spatial single cell transcriptomics) are nearly all ready to go! So now we are pushing hard to get the cells ready for distribution and analyses. Exciting times to come!

Below a picture of the consortium:

From left to right. Bottom row: Abdoel El-Ghalbzouri (LUMC), Huiqing Jo Zhou (RU), Ellen van den Bogaard (RUMC), Sue Gibbs (Amsterdamumc/ACTA), Luca Meesters (RUMC). Second row: Boeke Boekema (ADBC), Hanna Niehues (RUMC), Camille LaBerthonierre (RU), Koen Dechering (TropIQ Health Services). On screen: Saskia Aan (Proefdiervrij), Lisette Krul (SGF), Christian Freund (LUMC), Elias Imahorn (CELLnTEC). (Carine van Schie, Dutch Burns Foundation, is not in the picture)

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has, within the framework of Research along Routes by Consortia (NWA-ORC), awarded the research project Next Generation Immuno-Dermatology (NGID) with a prestigious grant of 11.7 MEuro. NGID is a nationwide, large-scale project to unravel novel biomarkers for six different skin diseases. These biomarkers will drive a high-tech, patient-centric approach in clinical practice.

Two members from the PAST4FUTURE consortium, Prof. Ellen van den Bogaard (RUMC) and Dr. Abdoel El-Ghalbzouri (LUMC) join forces and steer a full workpackage on translational skin disease models using the organotypic skin tissue platform at both institutes. Together with PAST4FUTURE partners, CELLnTEC and Proefdiervrij, Ellen and Abdoel will use the cell sources, tools and technologies generated in PAST4FUTURE to benefit NGID. Vice versa, PAST4FUTURE will profit from the patient material, data and extensive network in NGID. Together we can make a real change!

Read here for more information.

PAST4FUTURE consortium leader, Ellen van den Bogaard has been appointed as full professor of Innovative Experimental and Translational Dermatology at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Read here more information.

By linking health research as closely as possible to humans and thus making it more applicable and faster, more and more diseases can be prevented or cured in the long term. It is therefore vital to invest now in the development of “Human Measurement Models”, according to De Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen.

De Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen (SGF) have set up the research programme “Human Measurement Models” together with the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (LSH; Health~Holland), NWO domain TTW and ZonMw. In this programme, public-private partnerships contribute to more effective human health research that is less dependent on laboratory animal research. In a first financing round, SGF, together with Health-Holland, will award 3.5 million euros in PPP allowance and ZonMw 1.1 million euros to seven public-private partnerships. In addition, there are co-financiers, such as Stichting Proefdiervrij, who contribute at project level. A unique combination of strengths that has never taken place before and should ensure innovations in the field of human-centered science.

Human measurement or research models take humans as a starting point and are based on human material, such as stem cells, tissue after surgery or “organs-on-a-chip”. But also test subjects and computer simulations, using human data, are forms of “human measurement models”. When new treatments are investigated in a human model, it is expected that the step towards effective application in practice can be taken more quickly. This also makes science less dependent on the use of laboratory animal models, which is in line with the Transition Laboratory Animal-Free Innovation (Transitie Proefdiervrije Innovatie).

“Until now, the laboratory animal model is still often the standard within health research and in some cases even required by law. Despite the movement towards other models, their application often lags behind due to the lack of suitable alternatives. We will now change this by stimulating public-private partnerships for the development of humane measurement models. In this way, we will be able to prevent or cure illnesses better in the long term, so that more people can live healthily for longer. That is our mission. ” Said Mark Monsma, director of De Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen.

The programme consists of two funding rounds, making more than 9 million euros available in total. The second funding round entitled “Human measurement models 2.0: for health research into disease and prevention” closes on 3 November 2020 and is coordinated by NWO domain AES.

The following seven projects were awarded in the first subsidy round:

1. Validation of Human Cancer Organoids for Drug Development and as Predictive Models for Drug Response. (consortium leader: Prof. Dr. Hans Clevers)
2. Building a multi-tissue microfluidics system of metastatic potential – BIOMEP (consortium leader: Ir. Wytske M. van Weerden)
3. Platform for Alternative Skin Tests for sustainable future science (PAST4FUTURE) (consortium leader: Dr. Ellen van den Bogaard)
4. Towards osteoarthritis fingerprinting – combining imaging biomarkers and multi-organ-on-chip technology for improved in vitro models (consortium leader: Dr Marcel Karperien)
5. Drug disposition On-a-Chip: a multi-organ-on-chip model tailored to mimic ADME / PK in vitro (consortium leader: Prof. Dr. Roos Masereeuw)
6. Brain @ home: real-world clinical neurophysiological and neurobehavioral markers as novel human measurement models for personalised treatment in epilepsy and migraine (consortium leader: Dr. R.D. Thijs)
7. Bio-Informatic Qualification of Multi-organ disease Models: Evolution Through in vitro and Computational Symbiosis (consortium leader: Dr. Bas van Balkom)