CISTEM Work Packages

WP number

WP title

Lead beneficiary

WP leader

WP1

Heart On Chip based on human-induced pluripotent Stem cell Technology

Jagiellonian University in Krakow

Prof. Dr. Jozef Dulak

WP2

Training and networking

Elvesys

Dr. Lydie Jeux

WP3

Communication and dissemination

BioSense Institute

MSc. Jovana Stanojev

WP4

Project Management

BioSense Institute

Dr. Georges Dubourg

WP5

Ethics requirements

BioSense Institute

Dr. Georges Dubourg

  • WORK PACKAGE 1 (WP1)

    Heart On Chip based on human-induced pluripotent Stem cell Technology

    Objectives:

    • Establishment of procedure for iPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes using microfluidic and microsystem technologies

    • Production of microfluidic platform for heart-on-a-chip model using cardiomyocyte from iPSC

    • Investigation of cardiomyopathy coming from Duchenne muscular dystrophy

    Description of work and role of partners:

    Designing and fabrication of microfluidic chip for iPSC differentiation at the microscale. This process will consist in moving of the biochemical procedure for iPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes to the microscale using microfluidic technologies. Geometry of the microfluidic chip will be optimized in accordance with the differentiation process. The next step will require the optimization of differentiation process. Further on, integrating in the microfluidic chip a microstructured and stretchable membrane in order to improve iPSC differentiation process by generating mechanical stimulation and mimicking the stiffness of extracellular matrix. Morphological and molecular analysis will be performed to determine the effect of the stretching on the cellular behavior. The 3D microstructuration of the membrane will be realized by hot embossing or additive manufacturing techniques will be investigated in order to generate microgrooves to potentially the differentiation into cardiomyocyte.

    Few other tasks within this work package will be making heart-on-chip model based on iPSC and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy model.

  • WORK PACKAGE 2 (WP2)

    Training and Networking

    Objectives:

    • Offer a suitable environment for trainings, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and culture between the participants.

    • Technical skill development of seconded and involved staff (researchers, technical staff, experts).

    • Enhance the administrative and managerial capacity of CISTEM participants.

    • To strengthen the bridge between business and research institutions.

    • To provide networking possibilities, strengthen the ties between the participating institutions and beyond and foster future long-term cooperation and sustainability of the transfer of knowledge.

    Description of work and role of partners:

    Training and networking activities in form of Training/ seminars/workshops. They summarize the research and technology developments, know-how and experience gained before and during the all project technical phases (WP1) enabling common study, discussion, knowledge and experience share between people involved in particular activity and task. This work package will include:

    • Organization of technical training courses

    • Transferable skills training

    • Scientific lectures and seminars

    • Workshops on inter-sector and international cooperation (4 days long) and networking activities

  • WORK PACKAGE 5 (WP5)

    Ethics requirements

    Objectives:

    The objective is to ensure compliance with the ‘ethics requirements’ set out in this work package.

    This includes:

    – The obtention of the national and/or european autorization and notifications needed for the implementation of the project.

    – To ensure that Ethical standards and guidelines of Horizon 2020 is rigorously applied throughout the whole CISTEM project implementation, regardless of the country in which the research is carried out.

    Ethics Advisor – Gordana Vilotijevic Dautovic

  • WORK PACKAGE 3 (WP3)

    Communication and Dissemination

    Objectives:

    In this WP, the CISTEM consortium will undertake specific measures designed to increase visibility of project results and support their impact by

    • Raising awareness about the project results and activities.

    • Carrying out professional marketing actions – digital and offline/traditional.

    • Setting up project website and maintaining social media activities (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and relevant blogs)

    • Preparing press releases and selecting other materials for dissemination to the media and other stakeholders in all EU Member States and non-European countries.

    • Developing an organizational structure for exploitation and sustainability of the project

    • Managing the derived knowledge, generating Intellectual and Industrial Protection actions and publications.

    • Scientific dissemination activities

    • Public dissemination, communication and public awareness activities.

    Further on, there will be task to define strategy to exploit the project results mainly following two complementary approaches: open-source exploitation and industrial exploitation.

    All the knowledge generated by the project partners will be continuously tracked and qualified, by managing:

    • Confidentiality issues: the CISTEM consortium may decide that information should be kept confidential within the partnership, whenever their interests should be preserved

    • Intellectual Property Issues: appropriate legal protection means will be investigated every time results can be protected. Owners of the results should be the participant(s) that generated the knowledge. Confidentiality, IPR, dissemination and exploitation issues are addressed by the Consortium Agreement that will be signed before the signature of the Grant agreement with the European Commission.

  • WORK PACKAGE 4 (WP4)

    Project Management

    Objectives:

    • To support the CISTEM project in terms of administration and management

    • To monitor progress with respect to R&D and secondments

    • To continuously undertake risk management for the CISTEM project

    • To ensure gender equality in all activities related to the CISTEM project

    • To coordinate all activities relating to the project-reporting requirements.

    Description of work and role of partners:

    • Consortium, Management Board, Expert Advisory Board Meetings (organization)

    • Kick-off meeting and next meetings organized (1 per year, combined with the selected workshops): summary of particular WPs, problem solving, plans for next project phases.

    • Progress Monitoring and management: This task relates to the overall management and coordination of the CISTEM project. This will primarily be the responsibility of the Project Manager (PM) who will ensure that the secondments and R&D tasks are being conducted:

    – In accordance with the work plan

    – In line with the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (including monitoring the role of women at all levels within the project).

    – In within the time period.

    Moreover, the External Advisory Board (EAB) meetings will be organized back to back with the Project Management Board meetings to review the quality of the research and monitor the secondments.

    • Financial management and reporting

    • Risk management