Project R-15845

Integrative technology platform for advanced BioFunctional characterization of human health and disease in rehabilitation (BioFunc) (Research)

The BioFunc lab will be a unique platform capable of conducting a truly multiscale characterization of functional adaptations to health and disease across various human tissues, focusing on skeletal muscle, connective tissue, and adipose tissue. Enhancing the function of these tissues is critical for addressing a wide range of (pre)clinical conditions, from muscular dystrophies, metabolic disorders, and sarcopenia to optimizing general health and (athletic) performance. A key challenge in biomedical research is the translation gap – where cellular discoveries fail to reach clinical application, and clinical observations lack a mechanistic understanding. BioFunc overcomes this barrier by integrating, for the first time, highly specialized expertise in multiple 3D human organoid models, ex-vivo assessments of the functional dynamics of these organoids and patient-derived tissues, as well as in vivo near-infrared spectroscopy and musculoskeletal force generation. BioFunc will serve as a key platform to bridge fundamental and clinical research, as well as serve as an attractive hub to foster (inter)national academic, industrial, and clinical collaborations. While this platform provides a unique setting for discovering, validating, and understanding novel interventions targeting muscular, connective tissue, and metabolic disorders, its versatile design enables seamless expansion to other tissues, offering highly valuable interdisciplinary and translational opportunities.

01 July 2025 - 30 June 2029