THE PROJECT

The goal of Multi-scale Biological modalities for physiological human articulation (MultiScaleHuman) is to research by training a body of early stage researchers (ESR) and experienced researchers (ER) in the creation of a multi-scale biological data visualization and knowledge management system for improved understanding, diagnosis and treatment of physiological human articulation. MultiScaleHuman will narrow its ambitious research towards a very important and challenging healthcare problem of MSD and related disorders. MultiScaleHuman will provide a unique training program, from technical to complementary skills learning by fully exploiting the training opportunities that Marie Curie ITN provides and by building a consortium of partners that brings multi-disciplinary skills in the understanding and treatment of physiological articulations in MSD and related disorders.

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and related disorders are often considered as an inevitable consequence of aging, accounting for the largest fraction of temporary and permanent disability . Many MSD lead to joint pain, stiffness and limited motion, affecting all human body articulations. As the population ages and physical capabilities decline, more Europeans, aspiring to maintain a normal and active lifestyle, will unfortunately develop MSD yielding a staggering economical burden , and significant challenges in Healthcare.

As recognized by the new EU strategic programme , the strong synergy of ICT and medicine paves the way to predictive medicine to better prevent and treat illness. In particular, there are tremendous breadths of MSD research that harness modern advances in sciences, e.g. emerging multi-modal biological imaging acquisitions , advanced biomechanical analysis , cellular analysis to therapeutic approaches , and health prevention based on computer-aided diagnosis (CAD).

Despite the dramatic improvements across biological scales and modalities in MSD R&D, these researches are often conducted independently, or at best sequentially, yielding hence limited advances in the multi-disciplinary research that integrates across multiple biological scales and modalities. In this very active and complex medical domain, the multi-disciplinary training of qualified researchers in the area of multi-scale bioinformatics is hence highly demanded and necessary. These highly specialized trainees will undoubtedly play a key role in the emerging multi-scale initiatives that require expertises from multiple partners since full knowledge is locally not available.

CONSORTIUM

A consolidated research group with a renowned academic and industrial profile.

• MIRALab University of Geneve, MIRALab (CH)
• University Hospitals of Geneve – Department of Medical Imaging and Information Sciences (CH)
• University of Minho – Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering (PT)
• Medizinische Hochschule Hannover – Laboratory for Biomechanics & Biomaterials Othopedic Clinic (DE)
• National Council of Research – Institute for Applied Mathematics and Information Technologies (IT)
• algoWatt SpA (IT)
• Leibniz University Hannover – Welfenlab, Institut für Mensch-Maschine-Kommunikation (DE)