• The Toulouse University Hospital and the Max Mousserons Biomolecules Institute of Montpellier, partners of CARDIOPATCH, organized on the 10th of October the "3D Printing in Health in Occitania: Meeting between actors of the fields" conference

• The event held on Toulouse was a perfect opportunity to discover innovations on the 3D printing field in the French region

The Toulouse University Hospital and the Max Mousserons Biomolecules Institute of Montpellier, partners of the European project CARDIOPATCH, organized the 10th of October of 2022 the "3D Printing in Health in Occitania: Meeting between actors of the fields" conference, which took place at the Hôtel Dieu Saint Jacques of Toulouse.

The event aimed to promote meetings between actors in the field of 3D printing and those in the field of health on the one hand, but also academic and industrial actors on the other hand. 

The day began with the presentation of research projects conducted in Occitania using 3D printing for regenerative medicine. And the afternoon was devoted to the presentation of the structures of the Toulouse University Hospital that can assist project leaders (scientists, doctors, start-ups and companies) in their technological development or search for financing. 

The session was followed by the presentation of 5 French entrepreneurial success stories, particularly from the Occitania region. Finally, a "speed dating" session between players in different fields encouraged exchanges on the various needs and potentially defused the associated technological barriers.

This day was organized within the framework of the European research program CARDIOPATCH, which aims to develop biotechnology-based solutions to regenerate damaged heart tissue after a heart attack. 

The several partners of the consortium of the initiative, co-funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), are working on the development of a collagen patch impregnated with mesenchymal stem cells harvested from body fat. 

One of the approaches envisaged is to optimize the repair functions of the cells using genetic modification and cellular reprogramming techniques. Another way is to stimulate cardiac cells with a bioactive patch containing growth factors. The project also integrates 3D printing to develop an ancillary that will allow the patches to be implanted in a less invasive manner than the methods currently available. In addition, to generalize the production of patches in laboratories and rationalize their transport to the hospital, another device is being developed by a Spanish team using 3D printing.

Led by Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), CARDIOPATCH includes partners from Spain, France and Portugal: CIMA Universidad de Navarra, via the Foundation for Applied Medical Research, Leartiker Technology Center, Fundación Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, communication agency GUK, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, the University of Montpellier (UM) - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), GenIbet Biopharmaceuticals and the Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica.