Our early-stage researchers

Konstantina Solou

University of Patras

Resident in Orthopaedic surgery and Traumatology, research on hip biomechanics

What is your role in the SBR team at the University of Patras? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
As a member of the UPAT team in the SBR project, I investigate the biomechanical properties of the newly created bone. In the laboratory, we axially load the femoral defect with the scaffold in place fixed with two plates embedded in PMMA. The distribution of femoral stresses, as well as the axial resistance of the scaffold, is recorded. In addition, using pQCT images, the porosity and mechanical properties of the newly created bone are studied and an FEA model is generated to predict stress distribution.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
As an orthopaedic surgeon, I am interested in better understanding biomechanical properties of the bones to implement this knowledge in my clinical practice. As a scientist, I want to improve the life of others by working within a research team. Developing a scaffold stabilizing the bone deficit presents many positive outcomes, as it makes a faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay possible for the patients.

What does it mean for you to be part of the SBR project?
The SBR project is a collaborative European project. Being a member of such a community is an honour. The emphasis put on collective work and efficiency with scientists from different countries and backgrounds have been key to develop such an ambitious project. I feel proud of being part of this network and to contribute to it in my own way.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
Alongside my orthopaedic career, I would like to continue working as a scientist. I have been gaining extensive experience in project cooperation and organisation throughout my work within an international research team. Joining another international project as a team member or later as a team leader would represent a new achievement for me. With these biomechanical tests, I have been developing a better understanding of hip biomechanics, which will be useful for further research in the future.

Hisham Idriss

GenesInk

R & D Engineer

What is your role in the SBR team at GenesInk? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
I was a part of the team responsible for the materials formulation in Genesink. More specifically, I was working in the Work Package 4. My work was focused on the optimization of the reaction conditions used in the Pt NPs synthesis and their corresponding nanoinks formation, and this in addition to testing their reproducibility.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
I am motivated to work in any project that is related to sustainability in a direct or indirect way. I see the impact is has on the environment, which in turn benefits people's quality of life. With perseverance, discipline, and a passion for protecting the environment, everything is possible. With the development of farming methods and medical systems for disease treatment, science and technology have helped humanity overcome many of its challenges. We have saved a ton of time thanks to innovations.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
The SBR project brings together international experts from medicine, biochemical, pharmaceutical and material sciences, engineering and industry for solving an unmet challenge in the management of bone loss and bone repair. This is based on biocompatibility, which eventually has a direct positive impact on our lives. Being in SBR enabled me to deepen my knowledge in different topics in addition to growing my expertise and a wide range of skills.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
Thinking creatively is important when we use our innovative thinking abilities to develop new product designs and project ideas that could be helpful for our community. Being a member of an international team is a crucial first step in nurturing innovation and creativity. Your solution statement may be limited if you only collaborate with local staff because you will only be able to draw upon concepts from people with backgrounds that are similar to your own. However, if you are part of an international team, you have the opportunity to explore fresh notions and ideas, and other approaches to problems are put forth.

Elena Guerrero San Vicente

Leitat

Diagnostic Devices

What is your role in the SBR team at Leitat? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
My role in the SBR project is the development of a biosensor to screen the presence of biomarkers in the process of bone healing. This biosensor with other sensors will monitor the inflammation and infection process of the bone.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
I loved the idea of developing new things that are challenging and that help the world evolve, especially in the health field. I also like the diversity of projects and aspects you can work on.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
I like to think that with SBR, we will contribute to the research carried out to improve health and life, focusing on bone healing.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
The biosensor that we have developed for this project, is a cutting-edge scientific innovation and it is one of the first implantable biosensors. I expect to continue the research on this field and to keep contributing to the development implantable or wearable biosensors.

Francisco Rodriguez

Asphalion S.L.

Regulatory affairs, medical devices, EU regulations, borderline products

What is your role in the SBR team at Asphalion S.L.? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
As a member of this international consortium, my role is to provide developmental support for the regulatory aspects of our large bone defect regeneration device, ensuring that the SBR system adheres to the applicable standards and EU regulatory guidelines. My responsibilities involve understanding and applying these guidelines during the early stages of product development. Our final goal is to achieve a smooth transition of our product from the development phase to the certification.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
Being part of the SBR project fulfils the personal motivation that initially led me to science. I have always been fascinated by working alongside experts from various fields like medicine, design engineering, and molecular biology. This project not only offers me this opportunity, but it also allows me to be part of a multidisciplinary and international team working towards a common objective. My motivation is further fuelled by the potential of our innovative product to fill an existing gap in regenerative medicine.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
Being part of this consortium provides me with a unique opportunity for both personal and professional growth. It allows me to collaborate with a diverse group of experts in various fields and to learn from their unique perspectives. For me, this consortium represents a collaborative journey towards making a significant positive impact in healthcare.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
Upon completion of the SBR project, my objective is to continue improving my expertise in the regulatory affairs field of medical devices, particularly in innovative ones. I plan to benefit from the experience and knowledge gained during this project to support new researchers bring novel health solutions to life. My goal is to be an effective regulatory guide for future innovators, helping them transform their breakthrough ideas into real-world health solutions.

Laar Strub

GenesInk

R & D Technician

What is your role in the SBR team GenesInk? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
I am a chemical technician working at Genesink. In SBR, I was responsible for material synthesis and formulation. More specifically, I was performing the Ag nanoparticle formulations.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
Having clear and attainable research goals is key to remaining motivated. This helps me tracking progress, celebrating accomplishments, and identifying problems or gaps I may face. Curiosity is the driving force behind science. That is, to comprehend how and why things occur as they do. Everything is predetermined, and there is no free will. The desire to understand the mechanisms of everything around us leads us to science. In short, science is essential for our health, safety, and well-being.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
When I look at inventions and high-quality products, I notice that they are designed to ideal standards as a result of a massive number of research and experiments. Investigation, documentation, and trials allow the researcher to reach new results based on the most recent findings. To be a part of this project means a lot to me. Biomedical research is crucial since it is the first step towards developing new medication that helps manage a wide range of health ailments and diseases. Disease prevention and treatment are only possible with such kind of research.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
Setting a clear goal is essential for turning initiatives and ambitions into attainable reality. Adding specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound criteria to a plan considerably increases its likelihood of success. When international researchers with different backgrounds and cultures communicate data with all their team players in the research process, it helps disseminating the most recent knowledge. Partners from academia, industry, government, and civil society can engage in research and innovation and advance progress through science. It is a chance for partners to benefit from other experiences in various fields.

Javier Palmer Paricio

Leitat

Surface chemistry

What is your role in the SBR team at Leitat? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
My role at Leitat within the SBR team is focused on the development of biocompatible conductive inks that will be the basis of the biosensors used in the implant. I am currently working on the development of these inks and their printing by versatile and innovative methods such as 3D dispensing.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
I am especially motivated by working on state-of-the-art scientific research, on issues that may not be fully implemented in society at this moment but that can be a breakthrough for hundreds of people in a few years. It is one of the reasons why I entered science, to understand that hidden side of the world, to understand a little why everything is the way it is, and how it could be improved.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
It is very motivating to be part of such an interdisciplinary and high-level international team. The SBR project allows us to bring together all these different and cutting-edge technologies to create a product that can help many people in the future.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
In the future I would love to continue working with these insightful people on new equally exciting projects. Once you work with people like that, it's easy to find new ideas and synergies for new projects.

Ahmed Musoski

TUM-MED / Institute of Molecular Immunology (IMI)

Viral Gene Technology, Bone Regeneration

What is your role in the SBR team at TUM-MED? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
My role in TUM-MED is to perform in vitro experiments for the potential therapy. These experiments contain adeno-associated viral vectors that either carry reporter genes (e.g. eGFP) or the growth factor genes BMP-2 and VEGF. I have been performing assays to evaluate whether the AAV-mediated growth factor production of ovine mesenchymal stem cells on chitosan 10% TCP scaffolds can be enhanced with cationic poloxamer.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
My fascination for medical biology is what gives me motivation to work in this field and this is also the reason why I went into science in the first place. I also gain motivation from the fact that I work on a project that could result in a therapy which would help people.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
I am happy to be a part of the SBR project because I find the project itself very intriguing and because I like the work in the lab. I am also thankful for the scientific opportunities that the project offers, like for example having the chance to perform experiments with chitosan scaffolds that are provided by one of the collaborating partners. Another aspect that I’m grateful for is that the project gives me the opportunity to work in an international team so I can gain valuable experience.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
My goal is to get a PhD degree by finding ways to enhance AAV-mediated transgene expression and to understand the enhancement on a molecular and cellular level. After that, I aim to stay in the field of medical biology to work on other projects either for the development of a therapy or just to gain new insights. Working on this project allows me to gain experience in this field and it gives me the opportunity to make connections to people from other working groups across Europe.

Lena Gens

AO Research Institute (ARI)

Preclinical orthopedic research, laboratory animal medicine

What is your role in the SBR team at ARI? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
As a veterinarian at AO Research Institute, I support the preclinical sheep study of SBR by leading anesthesias and assisting in surgery, as well as helping with post operative care and follow-up examinations like radiographs and CT scans.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
Animal studies are a big part of science and are still necessary in research. I went into this field of science, because my personal goal is to take care of animal welfare and make sure that animals used for scientific reasons will not suffer or feel unnecessary pain.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
SBR is an interesting project with a femur ostectomy model, which we do not use that frequently in our institute. This makes it a very challenging and interesting study. Being involved in such a complex and international project is an enrichment for my scientific career, as it helps me broaden my knowledge.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
I am currently a third-year resident at the European college of laboratory animal medicine and on my way to graduate. Working in an international research project contributes to my goal of becoming an internationally recognized lab animal veterinarian, reaching scientists all over the world.

Dean Tapia

AO Research Institute (ARI)

Biomedical, Preclinical, Orthopedics, Musculoskeletal, Surgery, Anesthesia and Analgesia, Laboratory Animal Medicine

What is your role in the SBR team at ARI? What are you currently working on within the scope of SBR?
I am currently a part of the veterinary team conducting the preclinical sheep study at the ARI. For the SBR study, I am primarily involved in the anesthesia and postoperative care of our animals. I contribute to the pre-surgical preparation, surveillance and monitoring as well as postoperative treatments and follow-up examinations including the imaging procedures.

What motivates you, personally? What made you go into science?
Having the opportunity to work in the field of preclinical research enables me to have firsthand insight into the advances and new technologies for future use in the medical field. Contributing to the progression of biomedical research that can help a myriad of people is a daily motivator. Advances that benefit not only human patients but also refine the complexities surrounding animal welfare in preclinical research are key aspects that excite me.

What does it mean to you to be part of the SBR project?
Being involved in such an extensive project brings challenges and fosters new discoveries. Applying, testing and being among the first to develop these new technologies is fascinating. Contributing to investigations leading to advances in the field was a great opportunity for exchanging knowledge. Overall, my participation in this research project was an intellectually stimulating journey that enhanced both my practical skills and my appreciation for the significance of rigorous scientific inquiry.

What are your goals after SBR? How does working in the team of an international research project contribute to reaching these goals?
I am currently enrolled in a Residency Program for Laboratory Animal Medicine. In the next few years, I aim to extend and refine my knowledge in this vast field. The international collaborations with researchers and other specialists in the field of preclinical medicine is a great platform for exchange of knowledge.