Chiron has understood correctly
'We are working on innovations to mimic human body behavior in a laboratory. To better understand diseases. And thus improve patient care.
Carlo Alberto Paggi and Dustin Dopsa, Co-founders & Managing Directors of chiron
LIOF helps this entrepreneur with:
LIOF is now well trained in recognizing and appreciating technological developments that make our world healthier, safer and more sustainable. Martine Rouseeau, business developer LIOF: "Indeed. The first project of chiron: Move-it we support through our program LimburgToekomstbestendig. For the second project, OPZuid Intellectuals, we helped with the application process to get support through Stimulus."
A project of
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About chiron
Better testing without animal testing, safer clinical trials, customized medical solutions, sustainable technological capabilities. chiron has got it right, because these are just some of the benefits made possible by this innovative company. It develops advanced technologies that mimic human joints, such as the knee or elbow. In order to find treatments for diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Carlo: "chiron's organ-on-chip technologies can exert unique mechanical forces on human cells. This makes important information for drugs, cell therapies and scientific research accessible. It also allows pharmaceutical companies to conduct better preclinical tests. Without animal testing. This is animal-friendly, faster and makes later clinical trials safer."
LIOF and chiron
Dustin: "We sought contact with LIOF for 2 projects: the Move-it platform and the OPZuid Intellectuals project." The ambition is clear to Dustin: "With the first project, we want to develop cutting-edge technology that allows mechanical stimulation of pieces of tissue. With the second project, we want to improve our current 'cartilage-on-chip' model so that we can also use it to study osteoarthritis."
6 partners, more than 2 million euros
With success! Carlo explains more: "In the OPZuid project, we are working together with TNO, Hy2care, Medace, the University of Maastricht and the University of Twente. With a total budget of more than 2 million euros, this project makes it possible to actually bring our most valuable product to the market."
"We are enormously grateful for all the support from LIOF to further develop our company. Of great value."
Why are these projects so special?
"We touch on 2 important topics in biotechnology and healthy society with this: ethics and environment," Carlo explains. "First, the ethical side: our models are designed to approve drugs preclinically without the need for animal testing. And because our technologies incorporate human cells, we can better mimic diseases. Thus we are creating a unique approach for both drug research and medicine 'tailor-made'."
The environment has also been considered
Second, the environment. "Everyone at chiron has worked in laboratories before. So we know very well how much plastic is consumed here every day. Thus, anything that comes in contact with organic products must be destroyed. For the sake of safety. But, many laboratory materials contain up to 50% plastic that never comes into contact with biological products at all. How can we do reuse that plastic? With this project, we're thinking about that."
chiron is not sitting still!
Dustin: "We have now successfully completed the Move-it project with the production of a first minimum viable product. This is also called 'MVP' in the start-up world. The OPZuid project started in March 2024. We are currently making significant progress in the design of the 'cartilage-on-chip' model for osteoarthritis and the evaluation of 'reusable' parts. In order to reduce our carbon footprint."
"Our customers are our most valuable critics.
So we do everything we can to offer them the very best."
Finally, does Carlo have any tips for other entrepreneurs?
"Make sure your goals are realistic. After all, Rome wasn't built in 1 day either," Carlo emphasizes. In addition, he advises putting yourself in the shoes of the people who will use your technology or product. "Our customers are our most valuable critics. So we like to do everything we can to offer them the very best. Products with the greatest impact. To make someone's work more effective, efficient and enjoyable. Then they are also more likely to incorporate it into their standard operating procedure - and therefore hopefully even less animal testing will be needed."
This testimonial is from November 2024
Photography: Ron Wiersma, Maastricht(ronwiersma.nl).
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