European Commission supports new international research centre on bone regeneration
With support of the European Commission, the new Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE) will be established in Latvia. BBCE will provide an opportunity to combine the expertise and infrastructure of internationally recognized Research Teams from Latvia, Germany and Switzerland, ensuring the platform for excellence in the development of biomaterials for bone regeneration and new solutions for creative biomedical applications. BBCE has ensured 15 million EUR funding under the frame of Horizon 2020 Teaming Phase 2 program. BBCE will be based on the research excellence and expertise of internationally recognized research teams and industry representatives – Riga Technical University (RTU), Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Riga Stradiņs University (RSU), AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland (ARI), Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany (FAU) and LLC Riga Stradiņs University Institute of Stomatology (RSU IS). FAU is represented by Professor Aldo R. Boccaccini, Head of the Institute of Biomaterials, who will lead the research and scientific training activities in the field of bioactive materials for bone tissue engineering. Raised EU funding is only half of the total funding ensured for the establishment of the BBCE, another 15 million EUR for the development of infrastructure will be provided from the Government of Latvia, European Regional Development Fund and the project partners in Latvia themselves. The strategic direction of the BBCE is research and development of patient-specific personalized solutions for bone regeneration. BBCE will ensure the full cycle of bone regeneration biomaterial development starting from the materials, their characterization, followed by preclinical investigations and finally clinical trials. Prof. Boccaccini said: “it has been a true honor to have been invited to participate in this consortium as one of the two international partners outside Latvia and to have the opportunity to play a key role in the establishment of this new biomaterials Centre of Excellence. We are excited about the impressive opportunities that will be created by this international collaboration, in terms of joint research activities and exchange of technical and scientific personnel, which has the potential to lead to breakthroughs in the development of biomaterial based therapies for bone related diseases”. Pictured: Prof. Janis Locs (Riga Technical University, Latvia), Dr. Matteo D’Este (AO Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland) and Prof. Boccaccini.