While Europe is still missing publishing researchers working on brain-a-chip devices, scientists and pharmaceutical companies growing interests in investing in organ-on-a-chip devices urges because these lab-on-a-chip devices offer highly accessible systems for proof-reading and testing hypothesis-driven research. Chips allow ultra low-cost test benches for medication and offer flexibility to healthcare. This biotechnology set the first milestone for bio-prosthesis and in situ implants. In the scope of this H2020 MSCA Fellowship, I propose to elaborate a neuromuscular-junction-on-a-chip, induce Parkinson with the well known α-synuclein and proactively test medication proposed by Novartis and Glaxosmithkline on the chip. The proposed schematic is designed to bring closer academia and industry, research and innovation, from design to market. Elvesys, microfluidic center innovation in Paris is the beneficiary of this H2020 MSCA Fellowship. Elvesys team is creating a microfluidic valley in France, with the vision focus on Regenerative Medicine. During this project, I am aiming at improving Europe's stance as a leading organisation in bioengineering and an attractive destination for research.

Cancer is both a genetic and an epigenetic disease whose outcome is influenced by tumor microenvironment, which represents the major driving force of tumorigenesis causing the functional heterogeneity observed in most cancer types. Defining the 3D-organization of cancer-associated chromatin domains would represent a new frontier to decipher tumor heterogeneity. None of the currently available technologies permit to rapidly analyze thousands of cells and profile their chromatin organization at single cell level, as needed for medical diagnosis and therapeutic guidance. The goal of the project is to build a high-throughput super-resolution microscope in a microfluidic chip smaller than a coin. With this device we will provide high resolution imaging of hundreds of cells at the diffraction limit and beyond, with minimal photo-toxicity. Femtosecond laser micromachining allows fabricating with accurate precision optofluidic components as waveguides, microchannels and lenses in a glass substrate. We will integrate them in a single chip, to achieve the required illumination path for advanced fluorescence excitation and sample movement: in the same chip biological samples will be scanned along fluidic channels in a fully automatic fashion. High-throughput data on chromatin distribution in hundreds of samples will be generated, allowing to decipher the pathogenic function of tumor heterogeneities in tumor progression. These data will be used as benchmarks for predicting differential responsiveness and/or resistance of cancer cells to targeted therapies opening brand new possibilities for medical diagnosis and therapeutic guidance. The consortium is formed by young scientists from Universities in the field of photonics, computer sciences and epigenetics, and a leading company in microfluidics.

This project will be focused on designing a microfluidic device to visualize haemodynamics within a carotid-artery mimetic device. The system will be designed to evaluate associations especially between fibrinogen, erythrocytes, and platelets when subjected to shear and coagulation-inducing factors. The design will include biologically and mechanically variable properties as may occur in transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). The intended system is to have similar composition and dimensions as the extra-cranial (common to internal) carotid arteries. Physiologically relevant dimensions will be implemented where the common artery will have a lumen diameter of 6.1 mm with variable thickness (0.6 to 0.9 mm), whereas the internal artery will be 4.7 mm in diameter with thickness of 0.7mm. The system will be equipped with pressure and stretch-inducing mechanics which can be modulated to trigger rheological and biological responses. Specifically, stretching will cause exposure of tissue factor and lipids, capable of triggering inflammatory coagulation. The proximal formation of biological or physical occlusions will be assessed using this device. Also, the design will enable visualization of intra-vascular activity as may be illustrated in live high-resolution confocal microscopy. Flow properties of liquids with varied rheological properties similar to blood will be tested. Clinicians and researchers studying the pathology of strokes and TIAs or conducting studies on intravascular thrombosis will be able to engage this device in experiments while pharmaceutical developers will be able to engage the device in testing actions of therapeutic agents. Stroke remains the second leading cause of death globally and through the development of this device, both developers and potential users of the device will be able to explore effective and applicable solutions. Elvesys will avail the researcher an enriching environment to master IP, marketing concepts, patenting and public engagement.

The global need to move current human technologies into a sustainable future will have a great impact for the world of chemistry and related industries. In close concert with other disciplines, chemistry will be increasingly solicited to identify solutions that are practical, affordable and ultimately sustainable. To meet these objectives, not only research, but also chemical education will need profound reforms that have to be contextualized in the multidisciplinary and intersectoral picture of a sustainable development. It is propelled by these societal needs that, by educating and practising 14 ESRs, PHOTOTRAIN will ensure photo-triggered chemical process to play its central role in sustainability. By capitalising on the basic principles of supramolecular chemistry to program dynamic self-organized photoactive interfaces, it is intended to raise the creativity, knowledge, skills and capacity of the ESRs to conceive new ideas for reforming current industrial transformations into a new generation of “light-triggered” processes. The challenge of developing and transferring light-fuelled processes from a proof-of-principle to an exploitable process is to embark upon a dynamic configuration in which photoactive species are kept separated, act independently and are finally recycled. In particular, through the adoption of a microfluidic system in which programmed different phases allow the formation of photoactive interfaces, it is planned to implement photo-catalytic technologies at the industrial level for triggering stereoselective organocatalytic transformations (i.e., pharmaceutical applications) and/or solar fuels production. By the organisation of targeted individual projects and interdisciplinary secondements, ESRs will be guided toward attractive early-stage career opportunities as researchers, process chemists, chemical engineers and research managers in collective forms at various academic and research institutes, small and large enterprises, and NGOs.

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in women all over the world. Although therapeutic approach like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy reduced the risk of cancer specific mortality. Still there is a risk of cancer recurrence and mortality. Cancer research is typically dependent on 2D system and animal model which leads to conflicting the result due to cellular behavior, phenotypes, gene expression level and expensive animal studies (Szot et al., 2011). In this way 3D microfluidics systems are designed to fulfill the gap between 2D and animal model for screening and testing of drug. The present proposal is conceptualize to bridge the gap between 2D and animal model effectively, by designing the Organs-on-chip (3D), microfluidics system of tumor microenvironment to evaluate the efficacy of combination of anticancerous drug. Herein, the multi-compartment microfluidics platform will be generated by co-culturing of cancer cells, fibroblast and endothelial cells into biocompatible hydrogel, to produce a multi-organ-on-a-chip devices. It recapitulates organ-like functions in each compartment and a vascular-channel between the compartments produce preliminary human on-chip. This 3D microfluidics system dedicated to evaluate the efficacy of anticancerous drug will be helpful to improve the future drug development applications.