ACCURE

Project description

ACCURE – the Austrian-Czech Union for Regenerative Medicine for Acute and Chronic Wounds – strengthens cross-border cooperation between Austria and the Czech Republic in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and regenerative medicine. Over 66 million people in Europe live with diabetes – many of them suffer from poorly healing acute and chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers. At the same time, the need for safe, effective therapies for skin diseases like eczema, as well as for alternative testing systems to animal testing, is increasing.

This is where ACCURE comes in: In a three-year project, universities (Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University, Johannes Kepler University Linz), research institutions (PROFACTOR), and industry partners (Enantis, TIGER) are jointly developing a novel, 3D-printed in-vitro skin model. This full-thickness skin model replicates the structure and function of human skin as realistically as possible and serves as a testing platform for pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and cosmetics. ACCURE combines state-of-the-art 3D printing technologies with regenerative medicine to improve wound healing while reducing the use of animal models according to the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).

Project Goals and Technological Innovation

The central goal of ACCURE is the development of a functional, 3D-printed, in-vitro full-thickness skin model for the research and treatment of acute and chronic wounds. This skin model is intended to:

• realistically replicate the structure and function of human skin,
• serve as a standardized testing platform for therapeutics, bioactive compounds, and cosmetics,
• significantly reduce the use of animal models in preclinical research.

PROFACTOR is developing a high-precision 3D printing platform based on advanced additive manufacturing and customized biomaterials for this purpose. Printed scaffold structures are specifically optimized for cell colonization, tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Within the project, these models will be tested with therapeutic substances, biomaterials, and drug formulations to evaluate their efficacy and safety. The combination of 3D printing, biotechnology, and wound healing research creates an innovative infrastructure for regenerative medicine in the Austrian-Czech border region.

Regenerative Medicine for Wounds: More Safety, Fewer Animal Experiments

• For Research & Industry: Companies in the fields of wound healing, dermatology, and cosmetics gain access to a realistic in-vitro skin model. This facilitates the testing of additives, therapeutics, and cosmetic products, accelerates development processes, and reduces costs by eliminating or minimizing animal testing.
• For Clinics & Patients: New active ingredients and materials for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds – especially in diabetics – can be developed more quickly and effectively. In the long term, the full-thickness skin model will not only serve as a testing system but will also be further developed into an implantable bio-scaffold for tissue regeneration.
• For the Region & Cooperation: ACCURE strengthens the Austrian-Czech research landscape, promotes knowledge exchange and technology transfer, and builds a sustainable foundation for future projects in regenerative medicine.

Through innovative 3D printing technologies, modern biomaterials, and international collaboration, ACCURE contributes to significantly improving the treatment of skin diseases and wounds – while simultaneously reducing reliance on animal testing.