Kick-off of the European Project RISE BAMOS

The European project "BAMOS" - Biomaterials and Additive Manufacturing: Osteochondral Scaffold innovation applied to osteoarthritis (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016-734156) has been launched on January, coordinated by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and funded under the Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) action (H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions).

This project, framed within the field of biofabrication and additive manufacturing (3D printing), faces the challenge of developing innovative osteochondral scaffold technology for the early intervention of osteoarthritis, avoiding or delaying joint replacement operations. Osteoarthritis is a frequent problem in the population older than 70 years, typified by a loss of quality of cartilage and changes in the bone structure at the interface of a joint.

BAMOS focuses its activities on research and training of research skills, based on the exchange of personnel, from postgraduates to experienced researchers, between the different participating entities. It is a highly interdisciplinary project, involving several branches of engineering, medicine/health sciences and cell biology among others.

A total of 7 partners from Europe and the People's Republic of China participate in the consortium, including prestigious institutions such as University College London (London) from the European side or the University of Zhejiang from the Chinese side. On the part of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) two research groups participate in BAMOS: the Integrated and Advanced Manufacturing and the Biomaterials and Biomechanics research groups.

The project plans to move 30 researchers among the 7 entities during the next 4 years, with a total time of 172 months of secondment. Apart from the results of collaborative research and scientific publications, workshops, summer schools and two international conferences (one in the EU, one in China) will be held on biofabrication and additive manufacturing.