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Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center, the University of Utrecht, Maastricht University, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Leuven and the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology from Belgium are working together inRegMed XB, a new collaboration on regenerative medicine. Seventeen companies are also participating, sharing their expertise and facilities, supplying materials and personnel, and helping to translate the knowledge into clinical applications. Finally, the regions Leiden, Utrecht, Noord-Brabant and Limburg will be supporting the research and embedding it in practice, creating new jobs and businesses.

RegMed XB is starting off with an initial budget of 25 million euros, with the assumption that this will grow to 250 million over the next 10 years, attracting the participation of universities, healthcare funds, companies and national as well as regional authorities.

In the Netherlands millions of people are suffering from a chronic disease like diabetes, kidney failure or rheumatoid arthritis. Research into these diseases tends to focus on combating or treating the symptoms. The partners within RegMed XB want to go beyond this. They are working on regenerative medicine to cure patients through tissue and organ recovery. In other words, making the tissue and organs healthy again and thus avoiding the need for a transplant.

Prof. dr. Keita Ito of TU/e is leading the research line that focuses on rheumatoid arthritis. Together with researchers from the University of Utrecht and Maastricht University as well as the participating companies, he is developing a smart, functional cartilage implant for patients with arthritis, which also helps form new, cartilage cells.

“The partners within RegMed XB want to go beyond this. They are working on regenerative medicine to cure patients through tissue and organ recovery.”,