OBJECTIVES    

The BAMOS project will bring together international leading research centres with wide-ranging complementary research expertise in the context of a collaborative scheme of research exchange and networking to:

• Define clinical specifications of the osteochondral scaffolds and the clinical delivery procedures to be used.

• Develop new osteochondral scaffold biomaterials in order to provide appropriate mechanical environment for support bone and cartilage formation simultaneously. Novel biopolymeric composites, processed by additive manufacturing, will be characterized and tested as well as coatings on titanium scaffolds.

• Develop innovative additive manufacturing techniques to produce patient-tailored osteochondral scaffold for large osteochondral defect repairs. Also, thermal welding technique will be used to join the cartilage component with the bone component to form an osteochondral unit.

• Assess the osteochondral scaffolds in both in vitro disease relevant model and in vivo clinical animal model. The scaffold will be ready at the end of the project for clinical trial.

• Train early stage researchers in the context of collaborative research, equip them with the advanced knowledge and expertise to tackle grand societal healthcare challenges and enable them to building the world class scientific research profile.

At the same time, this project will bring together leading researchers with wide-ranging research experience in the context of a collaborative scheme of research exchange and networking to (1) understand the global challenges and regional efforts in early intervention of osteoarthritis; (2) advance current knowledge in osteochondral scaffold design and development to enrich internationally leading science on the development of osteochondral scaffolds, their processing and their performance as part of a biological system; (3) take advantage of new biopolymers and manufacturing methods, such as additive manufacturing, to improve quality and efficiency of scaffolds as well as by optimization algorithm of design; (4) undertake knowledge transfer and learn the best practice in translate applied research into clinical healthcare benefit.