Funke
Tissue Engineering

Hello people with radical new ideas! We need pioneering solutions for the treatment of patients with artificial tissue. We need you.

Many patients are dependent on donor tissue or organ donations. However, the high demand for donor tissue and organs cannot be met by far. Therefore, patients suffer from long waiting lists and countless medical challenges or die before a donation is available. Artificially produced tissue, on the other hand, promises a lasting improvement in the quality of life for these people.

In recent decades, scientists, engineers and doctors have developed tools to construct biological substitutes that mimic natural tissue. However, the ultimate goal of overcoming the limitations of traditional organ transplantation remains unachieved.

Tissue Engineering

Demonstrate: the feasibility of a novel approach to tissue engineering for first-in-human transplantation.

The aim is to develop an advanced concept that will produce the most refined artificial tissue to date. This tissue must be as close as possible to natural human tissue (size, structure, complexity) and may include elements such as the engineering of cells, the development of tissue architecture or engineered materials.

Conclusion of the SPRIND Funke Tissue Engineering

On November 1, 2023, the SPRIND Funke Tissue Engineering launched with four ambitious teams embarking a ten-month journey to explore and demonstrate the key characteristics of the artificial tissue. SPRIND provided up to EUR 500,000 in funding to support this groundbreaking work.

Funke Tissue Engineering concluded after Stage 1

Stage 2, which would have included additional funding and support for planning first-in-human trials, did not take place. The milestones necessary to proceed to this stage were not fully met by a sufficient number of teams.

Knowledge gained in Stage 1 provides crucial insights for future advancements in Tissue Engineering

Innovation often involves discovering what works — and what doesn’t — before moving forward. Even when projects don’t continue along their envisioned trajectory, each phase offers learning opportunities that drive progress in the long term. SPRIND remains dedicated to fostering bold ideas and will continue to support innovators who push the boundaries of science and technology.

The teams

Cellbricks GmbH

Cellbricks GmbH

ZonalCartHT – Bizonal cartilage grafts

ZonalCartHT –
Bizonal cartilage grafts

Muscle Engineering for Human Transplant

Muscle Engineering
for Human Transplant

Functional Bioprinted Pancreas Tissue

Functional Bioprinted
Pancreas Tissue

Science Youtuber Jacob Beautemps took a look at the 3D bioprinter from the Funken team Cellbricks in person.

Breaking Lab Cellbricks

FAQ

No, the goal of the SPRIND Funke is explicitly to produce tissue outside the body with subsequent transplantation to restore organ function or replace an organ.

No, there are no plans to repeat the same SPRIND Funke next year. However, it is possible that other activities in this or adjacented topics will be conducted or that the projects of the current SPRIND Funke will be further promoted.

No, cell and gene therapies are not accepted, even if they are used to restore organ function after injection. In this SPRIND Funke, the focus is on ex vivo production of transplantable tissue. Thus, classical gene and cell therapies are explicitly excluded. Tissues to be transplanted that have been modified ex vivo by cell or gene therapies are not excluded.

No. It only needs to be clear from the work plan that the tasks are manageable for the team.

Yes, in principle, already published technologies can be used. However, a main focus of the SPRIND Funke is on unconventional and innovative ideas, so newer ideas have a higher priority.

A maximum of 8 teams participate in stage 1 and a maximum of 6 teams in stage 2.

All the work proposed by the teams should realistically be able to be carried out during the period of the SPRIND Funke. However, it is still possible to spend any remaining money beyond the funding period.

The SPRIND Funke is primarily about speed, as Stage 1 only gives a limited period of 8 months. A completely new animal experiment application will most likely not be approved until too late to generate meaningful results within the term.

The intellectual property rights created by the teams during the SPRIND Funke remain with the teams. SPRIND receives a free and non-exclusive right to use the results found. The teams undertake to grant licenses to third parties at standard market conditions. Details can be found in the Participation agreement which will be published alongside the Call for Submissions.

All expenses that serve to achieve the SPRIND Funke goal can be financed with SPRIND funds. This can include, for example, personnel costs, equipment and materials or rent.

Applications by project consortia are permissible. The leading consortium partner must be identifiable as the sole contracting partner with SPRIND and have its headquarters in the European Union, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the United Kingdom, or Israel.

SPRIND is committed to supporting innovators in implementing breakthrough innovations. If SPRIND identifies breakthrough innovation potential in the teams during the Challenge, their work can continue to be supported after the SPRIND Funke has ended.

A team of experts from SPRIND makes a preliminary selection from the applications received. The final decision on admission to the Challenge will be made on the basis of the application and the pitch in front of a jury of scientists, industry experts and investors. The pitch is scheduled to take place online at the end of October.

The application deadline is September 30, 2023 at midnight CET.

Do you have further questions?

Please feel free to contact us at challenge@sprind.org.

Jano Costard, Challenge Officer
Jano Costard, Challenge Officer
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