Communication

My PhD within the Disc4all European Innovative Training Network (ITN) has been an enriching experience and has given me the opportunity to develop into a more well-rounded scientist. The Disc4all training framework offered an interdisciplinary approach bringing together expertise from clinicians; computational physicists and biologists; geneticists; computer scientists; cell and molecular biologists; microbiologist and bioinformaticians to tackle IVD degeneration. To that extent, my thesis benefitted tremendously through the opportunity to bridge my experimental data to in silico models which would not have been possible without the collaborative effort of Disc4all. Personally, I have learned greatly from the opportunity to collaborate with so many individuals of various backgrounds and value the different perspectives they bring.

UBern

Pursuing my PhD as part of the Disc4all consortium has been a truly transformative journey, both professionally and personally. The Disc4all project focuses on addressing intervertebral disc degeneration, a key contributor to chronic low back, and offers a unique interdisciplinary environment that brought together experts from diverse fields including biologists, geneticists, computer scientists, cell and molecular biologists, microbiologists, bioinformaticians; and industrial partners. Being immersed in such a collaborative and innovative ecosystem not only broadened my scientific perspective but also deepened my appreciation for the power of interdisciplinary research. As an Early-Stage Researcher funded through the Disc4all Marie Skłodowska-Curie International Training Network, I gained access to exceptional opportunities for international collaboration and training. As part of the program, I had the privilege of completing three international internships in Sheffield Hallam University (UK), Hospital del Mar Research Institute (Spain), and Rochester Institute of Technology (US). Each experience enriched my academic and cultural understanding, exposing me to different research approaches and allowing me to build strong professional connections across continents. This journey has not only equipped me with advanced scientific and technical skills but also fostered personal growth, resilience, and adaptability. The dynamic and multicultural nature of the program challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, think critically, and embrace new perspectives. Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the support, mentorship, and collaborative spirit that defined my PhD experience. Being part of Disc4all and the Marie Curie network has been a fulfilling and inspiring chapter in my life—one that I will always carry with pride and appreciation.

UBern

My PhD journey has been a remarkable experience of growth and discovery, filled with opportunities that have profoundly shaped my academic and personal development. One of the highlights has been presenting my research at international conferences, where I engaged with diverse audiences from various fields. This exposure has enriched my understanding and inspired innovative approaches in my work.

During my studies, I participated in secondments in different countries, which introduced me to new fields, broadened my research perspective, while also enhanced my adaptability and cultural understanding. Working alongside colleagues from various disciplines emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex scientific questions. Additionally, the seminars and workshops throughout my PhD provided me with valuable skills and insights that further enhanced my expertise.

Teaching in academia has further developed my communication skills and deepened my appreciation for knowledge sharing. Balancing teaching responsibilities with research deadlines has taught me invaluable time management skills, allowing me to navigate challenges effectively.

However, the journey has not been without stress. The pressure to solve complex problems, innovate, and find solutions independently can be overwhelming at times. Learning new techniques and theories often requires perseverance and self-motivation, pushing me to step outside my comfort zone. Yet, these challenges have fostered resilience, helping me to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Overall, my PhD experience has been transformative, equipping me with the ability to overcome obstacles and the skills to innovate. The combination of research, teaching, and engaging with diverse audiences has prepared me well for my future endeavors in academia and beyond.

UPF

As the Disc4All project reaches its final milestone, we turn the spotlight to the individuals at its core—the Early Stage Researchers who embarked on this ambitious, interdisciplinary journey. Now stepping into the next chapter as post-doc, they carry with them not only academic expertise but invaluable experiences shaped by collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Testimonial: Francesco Gualdi, IMIM

Durin the three years of PhD I had the opportunity to work with excellent people and researchers from all over the world. First of all, my supervisors guided me in the best way possible, by leaving me free to explore what I liked but still giving me precious suggestions and focusing my research on pragmatical endpoints. Being part of an ITN allowed me to exchange ideas with other PhD students and PIs from very heterogeneous backgrounds and research fields. This gave me the capabilities of understanding many different types of research, from wet – lab to artificial intelligence. I think that a comprehensive view on research is the real advantage of being part of an ITN. I already signed a contract for a post – doc where the skills I developed in the last three years are of great importance.

IMIM

Testimonial: Ahmad Alminnawi, LIEGE

Undertaking my Ph.D. in biomedical engineering marked a pivotal period of intellectual growth and professional development for me. My research got more interesting by the day especially since I was working both in the wet lab and on computational modeling and simulations, so I was able to see these two aspects complement each other firsthand. The numerous conferences I attended not only expanded my knowledge but also connected me with influential figures who I believe will play a crucial role in shaping my career in the future. The secondments to other Disc4all institutions abroad provided invaluable experiential learning especially since they specialized in the topic that I was dealing with. However, the distinctive nature of my research set me apart from my colleagues at my host institution as I was the only person working on the intervertebral disc and the only one using bovine models. This created a sense of professional isolation, notably when I hit a roadblock in my research and needed external input. Despite this challenge, the comprehensive network I cultivated, and the insights gained from my experiences, allowed me to go through these hardships. It was a true experience of self-discovery and intellectual growth as every uncertainty turned into a challenge and finally a triumph. I consider myself lucky to have had this experience and acquired fellow researchers from all over Europe who turned into a big support network that changed what could have been a solitary pursuit into a collaborative adventure. I consider the mentorship received as not just about guidance on research methodologies but also a priceless lesson in resilience and perseverance.

Université de Liège

As the Disc4All project reaches its final chapter, we celebrate not just the research, but the remarkable journeys behind it. Our Early Stage Researchers—now proud PhDs—have shared their stories, insights, and transformations. From academic breakthroughs to personal growth, here’s what they had to say about their time in this unique, interdisciplinary adventure.

Let their voices tell the rest.

Testimonial: Andrea Nüesch, SHU, UFSD

Being part of the Disc4All project has been an incredibly enriching experience, both professionally and personally. I benefited greatly from the programme as a whole — the infrastructure provided was outstanding, allowing us to network not only within Europe but also with the wider disc research community across the globe. This international exposure opened up opportunities for collaboration with colleagues from diverse fields, which fostered truly interdisciplinary working strategies and significantly contributed to my growth as a scientist. The three years spent living abroad, including the secondment, provided me with invaluable insights into how science is approached in different countries. I was able to learn new techniques, gain perspectives from various scientific backgrounds, and adapt to different research cultures. These experiences have broadened my horizons, strengthened my adaptability, and enhanced both my technical and soft skills. Equally important has been the personal journey alongside the other Early Stage Researchers (ESRs). Over the course of the programme, we developed strong bonds that I believe will endure well beyond the lifetime of the project. Even as we now begin to follow our individual paths, I am confident that we will continue to support one another — both scientifically and personally — and remain a valuable source of advice and encouragement. I am also truly grateful for the superb supervision I received throughout the programme. The guidance and mentorship I was given helped me become a more independent, confident scientist, able to take initiative while still recognising the value of collaboration and shared expertise. Overall, the Disc4All project has played a crucial role in shaping my scientific career, and I am deeply thankful to have been part of such an inspiring and supportive network.

Andrea Nüesch, SHU, UFSD

As the Disc4All project reaches its conclusion, we look beyond the scientific milestones to celebrate the people behind them. Our researchers, who joined as early-career scientists and now emerge as PhDs, have experienced more than just academic success—they’ve grown through collaboration, exploration, and personal transformation. From breakthroughs in the lab to lessons learned along the way, they now share their unique experiences from this interdisciplinary journey.

In Their Words:

Testimonial: Exarchos Kanelis, ProtATonce LTD Former ITN Disc4All PhD candidate – now Junior Lab Scientist at Protavio Ltd

Embarking on a PhD journey within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program has been a transformative experience for me. The program's emphasis on international collaboration and interdisciplinary research has allowed me to work with some of the brightest minds in the field of Spinal Health across Europe. My project has not only deepened my expertise in these fields but also broadened my perspective on spinal health challenges.

The MSCA program provided an incredible support system, including funding for research and opportunities for networking through various schools and meetings. This exposure was instrumental in developing my professional network, opening doors to collaborations I hadn’t anticipated at the beginning. The opportunity to work in different countries and institutions was a unique aspect of the MSCA experience, enhancing both my personal growth and professional competence. Living in different cultural settings enriched my understanding of diverse research environments and fostered a more holistic approach to my work.

One of the most rewarding aspects was the mentorship and guidance from experienced researchers. Their insights and feedback were invaluable in shaping my research direction and improving my methodology. Utilizing advanced techniques like Luminex multiplex analysis, I was able to analyze multiple biomarkers simultaneously, providing comprehensive insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress induced disc degeneration. The integration of bioinformatics allowed for sophisticated data analysis, identifying potential therapeutic targets.

The MSCA program has undoubtedly set a solid foundation for my future career, instilling confidence and a global outlook that I will carry forward. Ultimately, I aspire to continue doing research, focusing on innovative solutions to combat disc degeneration as well as other conditions that affect the general population.

ProtATonce LTD

My doctoral journey within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Disc4All project has been predominantly positive and intellectually stimulating. Working on this innovative research initiative has allowed me to push boundaries in my field, despite encountering some operational challenges along the way. Although I joined the project six months after its commencement—which initially limited collaborative opportunities and created a slight learning curve—I quickly adapted to the research environment. The work, while occasionally progressing at a slower pace than anticipated, has been characterized by its groundbreaking nature. I take particular pride in our focus on developing solutions accessible to non-expert users, which I believe will have meaningful real-world impact. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this experience has been the relationships formed with remarkable colleagues who have since become close friends. These connections have enriched both my professional development and personal life, creating a support network that extends beyond the confines of our research. The MSCA Disc4All project has undoubtedly shaped my academic trajectory and provided a foundation for future endeavors in ways I could not have anticipated at the outset of this journey.

Maria Paola Ferri, BSC

As the Disc4All project comes to a close, it's time to reflect not only on the scientific achievements, but on the inspiring journeys that made them possible. Our Early Stage Researchers—now fully fledged PhDs—have walked an extraordinary path of learning, collaboration, and growth. From lab discoveries to life lessons, they’ve shared what this interdisciplinary adventure has meant to them.

Now, hear their stories—in their own words.

Testimonial: Dimitrios Lialios, BSC

Pursuing my PhD has been a transformative journey, both intellectually and personally. My work focused on the multiscale and multiphysics modelling of the intervertebral disc (IVD), bringing together biomechanics, transport phenomena, and cellular mechanobiology within a high-performance computing framework.One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the opportunity to work across disciplines—mechanics, biology, numerical methods, and HPC—and to see how theoretical ideas could be translated into practical simulations with clinical relevance. I also placed significant emphasis on understanding and optimizing the numerical implementation, including the finite element assembly and solver performance, which proved crucial for enabling large-scale simulations. During my PhD, I also had the opportunity to participate in international secondments that broadened my scientific perspective. At the University of Bern, I gained hands-on experience in the wet lab, which deepened my understanding of the experimental underpinnings of my models. At KU Leuven, I collaborated with researchers in the field of spinal biomechanics, benefiting from interdisciplinary exchange and expanding the translational relevance of my work. Equally important were the people I met along the way—colleagues, collaborators, and fellow PhD students—many of whom became close friends. Their support, camaraderie, and shared curiosity made this journey not only intellectually enriching but personally meaningful. Throughout my PhD, I’ve grown not only as a researcher but also as a problem solver and communicator. The challenges I faced—whether theoretical, numerical, or computational—shaped my ability to think critically, collaborate effectively, and maintain clarity in complexity. This journey has strengthened my commitment to computational science as a tool for addressing real-world biomedical problems, and I look forward to contributing further in this interdisciplinary space.

BSC

🎓✨ Missed the 8th Barcelona VPH Institute Summer School? No worries – we’ve got you covered!

📹 The full recordings from this year’s summer school are now available! 🔗 Find them right here: https://lnkd.in/dTkgUwck and dive into cutting-edge talks, and discussions on Integrative Medicine! 🧠💻Check the activity report attached!

👩‍⚕️👨‍💻 Whether you joined us in Barcelona or not, now’s your chance to (re)live the experience

📍 Watch, learn, get inspired – anytime, anywhere.

UPF-VPHi

https://www.youtube.com/@disc4all_project/playlists

🎉 Exciting News!

We’re pleased to share that our project Disc4All EU Project has been featured in the Results in Brief article published by CORDIS – the European Commission’s primary public repository and portal for research results. This feature is part of their latest Results Pack on AI in Life Sciences!

🔍 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/dtJqJaN9 📚 Explore the full Results Pack: https://lnkd.in/dHT7D9zJ

A heartfelt thank you to the CORDIS Editorial Team for their recent collaboration with our Project Coordinator, Prof. Jérôme Noailly from EnginyEria UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona, to highlight our work. We’re also deeply grateful to our Project Officer, Thomas Vyzikas, for his invaluable guidance and support throughout the project!

🔁 If you find this work valuable, help us spread the word by resharing!

UPF

https://lnkd.in/dtJqJaN9

As the Disc4All project reaches its final chapter, we celebrate not just the research, but the remarkable journeys behind it. Our Early Stage Researchers—now proud PhDs—have shared their stories, insights, and transformations. From academic breakthroughs to personal growth, here’s what they had to say about their time in this unique, interdisciplinary adventure.

Let their voices tell the rest.

🗣️Testimonial: Francis Chemorion, InSilicoTrials

My PhD journey as part of the Disc4All Project within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program has been a transformative experience, blending excellence in academic research with invaluable professional development. The interdisciplinary nature of the project allowed me to collaborate with clinicians, biologists, microbiologists, biomechanists, and bioinformaticians, broadening my perspective on spinal health research. Through secondments across Europe, I gained exposure to diverse research environments, enhancing my problem-solving, medical writing, and research skills. This exposure also provided me with a unique opportunity to master cutting-edge technologies and methodologies specific to each institution, from advanced imaging techniques to sophisticated bioinformatics tools. Moreover, working in varied cultural and academic settings honed my adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills, assets that are increasingly vital in today's globalized research landscape. The network I built during these experiences has not only enriched my current research but also laid the groundwork for future international collaborations, opening doors to exciting possibilities in the field of spinal health. Like many PhD students, I faced challenges such as experimental setbacks and data overwhelm, but these experiences fostered resilience and adaptability. The global outlook cultivated by the MSCA program, combined with the specialized focus on intervertebral disc research, has not only deepened my expertise but also ignited a passion for innovative solutions in spinal health. As I look to the future, I am excited to build upon this strong foundation, leveraging the interdisciplinary approach and collaborative spirit instilled during my PhD to drive impactful research in computational biology and spinal health.

Thank you for sharing, Francis! Stay tuned!

UPF

Thrilled to announce that Katherine Crump has successfully defended her PhD in Biomedical Engineering today! Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. A proud milestone for the Disc4All EU Project and the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bern!

Benjamin Gantenbein

We´re honored to share that Wiley In Research has recognized our review paper, "Cartilaginous endplates: A comprehensive review on a neglected structure in intervertebral disc research," as one of the top most-viewed papers, making it the second award we have won for this paper! Published in the Orthopaedic Research Society, this work highlights the often-overlooked role of cartilaginous endplates in spinal health and pathology, an area that I believe deserves more attention in intervertebral disc research. A huge thank you to my co-authors, mentors, and peers who supported this journey!

Disc4All Consortium

She said: ¨I am delighted to share that I successfully defended my PhD entitled "Experimental exploration of the microbiome in the intervertebral disc". A huge thank you to Professor Christine Le Maitre, Melissa Lacey and Benjamin Gantenbein for the support throughout this project! Furthermore I would like to thank everyone involved in the Disc4All EU Project, the BMRC and MedSchool you made this journey unforgettable.¨

Andrea Nüesch

Congratulations to Paola Bermudez Lekerika having passed very successfully her PhD defense! Great work and great talk! She said ¨I had the privilege of successfully completing my PhD degree. I am really honored of sharing my PhD journey with so many great scientists and amazing colleagues. Special thanks to my supervisor Benjamin Gantenbein and co-supervisor Professor Christine Le Maitre for their constant support and guidance. In addition, I would like to thank all the fantastic Disc4All EU Project members. It has been a pleasure meeting and spending a great time with each of you, at professional and personal level! I hope our paths cross again in the future!

Thank everyone again for joining me during the defense.¨ Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern

Ubern

Katherine Crump won a best podium award and sofia tseranidou won a best poster award at the 7th PSRS meeting at skytop in Philadelphia! Congratulations again to all the winners!

UBern

We are pleased to inform you that the Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona Department has a new Doctor!

We congratulate Dr. Dimitrios Lialios who defended his dissertation on December 10th and obtained the grade of Excellent!

After the scrutiny of the secret ballot of the board, we inform you that Dr. Lialios has been awarded with the Mention "Cum Laude".

As well, we congratulate his thesis supervisors, Dr. Jérôme Noailly (UPF); Dr. Ane Beatriz Eguzkitza (Barcelona Supercomputing Center), Dr. Eva Casoni (ELEM Biotech), Dr Laura Baumgartner, and Prof. Mariano Vazquez!

Thesis title: A High-Performance Computational Framework for Multiscale and Multiphysics Modelling of the Intervertebral Disc. Committee: President: Prof. Jacques M. Huyghe (University of Limerick) Secretary: Dr. Abel Gargallo-Peiró (Barcelona Supercomputing Center) Member: Dr. Alberto Zingaro (ELEM Biotech)

BSC

The Disc4All EU ITN project was well represented at the 7th ORS-PSRS 2024 meeting at Skytop, Philadelphia, USA with 2 talks and 3 posters! ESR Sofia Tseranidou won the best poster award with her preject on ¨How to uncover p-p interactions from a regulatory network model through graph neural networks and by using gene ontologies¨. She was even happier to share this with ESR Katherine Crump who won the best posium presentation award! The Disc4All PIs: Prof. Christine Le Maitre, Prof. Jérôme Noailly, Prof Benjamin Gantenbein, Prof. Karin Wuertz-Kozak and ESR Paola Bermudez Lekerika also attended this meeting.

Congratulations again to all the winners!

Disc4All Consortium

We are pleased to inform you that the Disc4All Project has a new Doctor!

We congratulate Dr. SAI NATARAJAN THRISSUR RANGANATHAN, who defended his dissertation on October 29th and obtained the grade of Excellent.

As well, we congratulate his thesis supervisors Dr. Miguel Ángel González Ballester and Dr. Ludovic Humbert (3D Shaper Medical S.L.)

Thesis title: High resolution 3D modelling of lumbar spine from MRI using deep learning Committee: President: Dr. Simo Saarakkala (University of Oulu, Finland)

Secretary: Dr. Federico Sukno (UPF)

Member: Dr. Peter Seevinck (Utrecht University MRIGuidance)

Good luck, Sai! Disc4All Consortium

UPF

At the end of September, Prof. Jérôme Noailly had the great pleasure to present the experience and outcomes of Disc4All EU Project, in a talk about International Collaborations, at the Career Development Session "Establishing International Research Collaborations - Building Connections", of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2024 Annual Meeting, in Toronto, Canada.

During the last four years, 15 PhD Candidates from 10 different nationalities have spread over 17 institutions and companies of eight different countries, to focus on translational intervertebral disc research and transversal training.

Thanks to the joint scientific work developed in these entities, including: Universitat Pompeu Fabra; University of Oulu; 3D-Shaper Medical; University of Bern; Protavio Ltd; Sheffield Hallam University; The University of Sheffield; University of Liège; KU Leuven; King's College London; Hospital del Mar Research Institute; Barcelona Supercomputing Center; InSilicoTrials; Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya (AQuAS); Rochester Institute of Technology; The University of Hong Kong; Tampere University,

along with a strong international mobility of our researchers, we have achieved great things:

- Building tools for phenotype-based intervertebral disc modelling: Terence McSweeney, Narasimharao Kowlagi, Sai Natarajan, Estefano Muñoz-Moya

- Building hybrid experimental-computational approaches, for integrative biology-based modelling of intervertebral disc cell regulation: Paola Bermudez Lekerika, Andrea Nüesch, Katherine Crump, Exarchos Kanelis, sofia tseranidou, Ahmad Alminnawi

- Building tools for multiscale integration of intervertebral disc biology, omics and disease phenotypes: Roger Compte Boixader, Francesco Gualdi, sofia tseranidou, Estefano Muñoz-Moya, Ahmad Alminnawi, Dimitrios Lialios

- Buiding computational platform for data and hashtag#modelling and simulation tool integrations, in intervertebral disc research: Maria Paola Ferri, Francis Chemorion

- Exploiting phenotypes, hybrid data and multiscale modelling tools for radiology - and biology - based stratification of intervertebral disc degeneration in low back pain: Narasimharao Kowlagi, Estefano Muñoz-Moya

More information about scientific production here: https://lnkd.in/di_68n9j

Model repository: https://spineview.upf.edu/

More to come about the platform!

We hope that our experience can be inspiring for future research; many thanks to Nilsson Holguin & Sabashini Ramchand for the invitation to share at the ASBMR Meeting!

UPF

She said ¨I had such an amazing time attending ESB 2024 in Edinburgh last week to present my PhD research and hear about the latest in biomechanics! Very honored to have received both the ESB Travel Grant and the ESB Youngster Committee Poster Award :) Thank you European Society of Biomechanics for putting together a great conference!!! And of course, a special thanks to my Disc4All EU Project colleagues who have supported me throughout.¨ Congratulation, Katherine!

Andrea Nüesch posted a few days ago ¨It was wonderful to return to Davos for the ARI Orthopaedics Conferences meeting for Orthopaedic Infections. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about orthopedic infections from various perspectives. A highlight for me was receiving an update on Prof. S Rajasekaran's latest studies on intervertebral disc infections. Thank you for organizing such a great conference and for awarding me the Best Presenter Award. It was a pleasure to present my PhD project Disc4All EU Project. ¨

The Human Digital Twin Barcelona Summer School series is co-organized by BCN MedTech at the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and by the Barcelona International Summer School (BISS), with the collaboration of the UPF department of Medicine and Life Science. It provides junior engineers, early researchers and medical doctors with an integrative view of state-of-the-art research for in silico medicine, following a complete pipeline from basic science and clinical needs, to model application. The Summer School has the support of the Disc4All European Project, European Society of Biomechanics, of the Spanish Network of Excellence in Biomechanics and CompBioMed. The key methodological and technological concepts are enriched by afternoon hands-on sessions that stand for 15,5 hours of transversal training in in silico medicine technologies during the whole week, under the supervision of expert researchers.

This year, we had the pleasure to welcome 18 international speakers and 80+ attendees (online and offline), from different international institutions and Disc4All Project Members.

The Disc4All consortium’s research on intervertebral disc degeneration generates and utilizes a substantial amount of primary and secondary data. Data reusability, repurposing and heterogenous sources create the need for data curation. This paper outlines the strategies employed to bridge the gap between primary and secondary data sources. This involves the use of infrastructures and platforms with standardized data models and architectures that interface with each other seamlessly at the data storage and management layer and the use of ontologies at the semantic layer. Functionality and technical integration capacity tests are done to validate the technical effectiveness of the data storage and management layer and all testcases successfully pass and a comprehensive taxonomy is defined for the semantic layer. A meta(data) protocol is defined to guide data curation efforts and maturity model that employs a data curator log are enforced to serve as a tool for gauging the level of exchangeability and reusability of data. The outcomes demonstrate viability and reliability of the implemented data management framework to foster data collaboration.

Disc4All Consortium

The fourth Disc4All Winter School was hosted by KU Leuven with Organisation Committee: Prof. Lisbet Geris, Bernard Staumont, Ahmad Alminnawi, Dorina Stanculescu, Luca Emili. During this final edition, we were very pleased to welcome on-site and remotely 6 international speakers, 38+ Disc4all Consortium Members, Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) and external attendees. Detailed agenda and information here: https://insilicotrials.com/disc4all/.

4th Disc4All Winter School was held from February 19th to 23rd 2024 at KU Leuven in Belgium, organised by InSilicoTrials Technologies.

The Disc4all Advanced Training Event was hosted by Prof. Dr. Karin Wuertz-Kozak (RIT) and was held in Canandaigua and Rochester (USA) from December 11th to December 15th, 2023. December 11th and 15th were arrival and departure days, respectively, while scientific and career training sessions took place on December 12th, 13th, and 14th (for more details see below). The event included talks from 13 US-based speakers, as well as two hands-on lab training sessions. We hosted a total of 36 participants, including Disc4all Consortium Members, Disc4all Early Stage Researchers, Speakers, and RIT Students/Faculty.

Karin Wuertz-Kozak (RIT)

Ahmad Alminnawi has participated in the Disc4all Advanced Training Event, which took place from 11 to 15 December 2023 in Rochester, NY, USA.

Dear All, As the in silico medicine community continues to grow, there is a need to follow up on the clinical applications of Computer Modelling and Simulation (CM&S). In 2021 we conducted a first clinical survey to collect feedback from clinicians regarding their knowledge, experience and opinions on the application of CM&S in the clinical practice.

We have now just replicated this initiative releasing a second survey that aims to involve more medical doctors worldwide.

The survey is available at this LINK and we have it in 6 different languages (EN, DE, IT, FR, ES, NL).

We would highly appreciate it if you could distribute the survey to your clinical colleagues. Your contribution can really make the difference in expanding the outreach of this important initiative!

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Who should contribute: any medical doctors of any specialties; Prerequisites: any clinician can contribute, having experience in computational modelling & simulation is not a requirement; Survey length: between 10 to 15 minutes.

VPHi

Paola Bermudez was awarded with an EORS/ON foundation educational grant (500€) for travelling to EORS meeting in Porto (September 27-29). The grants were awarded to highly motivated and talented young investigators. We are really glad that Paola is one of them! 

Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint disease characterized by the destruction of the hyaline cartilage that covers bone surfaces. From the QUAES chair - Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona we organised a Scientific Coffee on September 22, 2023 to talk about this pathology, which affects 10% of the general population in Spain. Thanks to: ✔️ Jordi Monfort Faure (Hospital del Mar) ✔️ Jerome Noailly (Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona) ✔️ Josep Vergés Milano (OAFI, Fundación Internacional de Artrosis) ✔️ Anna Garcia- Elias (Cetir Ascires) In total, 34 people attended from the Valencian Association of People Affected by Arthritis (AVAAR), the Spanish Association with Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (AECOSAR), the Valencia Arthritis and Osteoporosis Association and the Association of Family and Community Medicine.

UPF

Francesco Gualdi is the Early Stage Researcher 8 - PhD candidate in the European Project “Disc4All”. He completed his bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Ferrara with a thesis focused on the characterization of cells coming from intervertebral disc (IVD). He graduated with honors from the University of Verona in 2021 with an M.Sc. in molecular and medical biotechnology. In parallel to his academic career, he had many working experiences as employee and teacher. His Disc4all Project aims to prioritize genes involved in Lumbar Disc Degeneration and to organize the amount of genetic information related to disc degeneration and its comorbidities to better understand its genetic basis and possibly to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to the disease.

Maria Paola Ferri is the Early Stage Researcher 3 - PhD candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". She graduated in 2018 in Biotechnologies, from the University of Rome La Sapienza, and in 2021 she obtained the Internation Master degree in Bioinformatics from the Alma Mater University of Bolumn. Her master thesis was focused on the creation of Cloud architectures designed to support and instantiate Bioinformatics applications, curing the portability and the user-friendly access to them. Right now, she is holding a position in the Life Science's Department at the BSC (Barcelona Supercomputing Center). Her role in the Disc4All project would be to extend the implementation of the IDD identification and prediction software in development into a Cloud and HPC environment, so to create in the end a portable and ready-to-use front-end workflow in the LBP (low back pain) investigation, for user and non-experts.

Francis Chemorion is the Early Stage Researcher 1 - PhD candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". He is ensuring collection of data from large data infrastructures, curating it with secondary data from models and simulations to come up with a robust integrated model which will be the basis of a central repository for the project with secured remote access and a comprehensive Data Governance framework. He is passionate about data and its use in powering innovation in research. He designs & develops modern enterprise data architectures by leveraging business intelligence tools, big data tools and creative problem solving. He develops software and systems that enable clients to surface information from their systems and draw insights that drive decision making.

Andrea Nüesch is the Early-Stage Researcher 7 – PhD candidate in the European Project “Disc4all”. Andrea graduated at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Technology, followed by a master’s degree in 2021 with focus on medical technology. For her master’s thesis, she joined the AO Research Institute Davos, where she was part of the group for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration where she investigated the influence of the secretome of primed mesenchymal stromal cells on Interleukin (IL) -1 stimulated Nucleus Pulposus cells. Currently, Andrea is based in the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre (BMRC) at the Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. The focus of her research is the experimental exploration of the microbiome in degenerated intervertebral discs.

Congratulations to these education grantees and Paola Bermudez Lekerika! The grants were awarded to highly motivated and talented young investigators to attend the EORS Annual Meeting #EORS2023 in Porto, September 27-29! We look forward to meeting you there soon!

Roger Compte Boixader is the Early Stage Researcher 6 - PhD candidate. He studied a Biotechnology BSc and a Bioengineering MSc at Insitute Quimic de Sarrià (IQS) at Ramon Llull University in Barcelona. He undertook a MSc thesis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston where he developed methodologies to study osteoarthritic knee cartilage function recovery from mechanical stimuli and the administration of medication. He joined Disc4All with the aim to assemble and further improve his skills. He looks forward to contributing to Disc4All by analysing the relationship of the gut microbiome and host genetics with disc degeneration through data driven approaches.

Sai Natarajan is the Early Stage Researcher 5 - Ph.D. candidate in the Disc4All European Project. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in Integrated Masters in Computer Applications from SSSIHL, India. Soon after, he started working as an independent researcher in the areas of image segmentation and generative modeling at Zentralklinik, Germany where he developed tools for understanding shape variations and structural changes in the Lumbar Spine. His current position is based at 3D-Shaper Medical and also at the University of Pompeu Fabra. His main focus of research areas include deep learning-based subject-specific segmentation and 2D-3D reconstruction of shape from single-view images. Reconstruction of the vertebral and disc bodies could lead to the finite element analysis for disc degeneration.

Dimitrios Lialios is the Early Stage Researcher 2 – PhD candidate in the European Project “Disc4All”. He graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and specialization in computational methods in structural analysis. His current position is based in Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). His research revolves around the computational aspects of simulating an Intervertebral Disc (IVD). From the development of a poro-visco-hyperelastic numerical model that can run on Alya, BSC’s finite element solver, to the development of an Agent Based (AB) solver that simulates the expression of proteins related to IVD degeneration and finally, their coupling over simulating a highly accurate in-silico model of the IVD. All the applications are optimized for High Performance Computing (HPC).

Terence McSweeney is the Early Stage Researcher 4 - PhD candidate in the European project "Disc4All". He trained originally as an osteopath at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to lecture there and at Swansea University. He received a MSc in Pain Management from the University of Edinburgh and a PGCert in Teaching in HE from Swansea University. As an osteopath he has worked in a wide range of clinical settings including the NHS in the UK and private practice in Bahrain. Now he has returned to academia full time as an Early Stage Researcher with Disc4All at the University of Oulu, Finland. His research uses deep learning and multi-omics approaches to tackle the interpretation of imaging data in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Narasimharao (Nash) Kowlagi is the Early Stage Researcher 15 - Ph.D. candidate affiliated to the University of Oulu for the European Project "Disc4all". He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering and a master's degree in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Before Disc4all, he was working for Accenture (~15 years) providing digital solutions for clients internationally. With the Disc4all project, he is excited to pursue his passion for AI in Healthcare and aims to apply his expertise in computer vision to study various medical image modalities. His primary research involves patient stratification by combining clinical and MRI (Spine) data using deep learning techniques and the need for psychological assessments for the patients having lower back pain (LBP).

Estefano Muñoz Moya is the Early Stage Researcher 14 - PhD candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". He has a degree in Engineering Sciences with a mention in Mechanical Engineering (2017), Civil Engineering (2020), and obtained his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (2020) from the University of Santiago de Chile. He has dedicated his previous research to two Chilean projects through experimental tests and numerical simulations. His current research focuses on systematizing multiscale modelling of intervertebral disc regularization during degeneration. Molecular/cell and tissue/organ scale models are locally integrated into areas of interest, thus generating an intelligent atlas of simulated data. This will allow the extraction of simulated and real data altogether and the spatio-temporal evolution of degeneration, characterized by specific hierarchies of risk factors and exploitable clinically.

Sofia Tseranidou is the Early Stage Researcher 13 - PhD candidate in the European Project “Disc4All”. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences in the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in 2017, while at the same time completed her internship in the Onassis Cardiac Centre of Athens as an assistant to the department of the CT. In 2020 she received her Master’s Degree in Computational Biomedical Engineering in the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Her thesis focused in the mechanobiology of the intervertebral disc cartilage endplate. She is a member of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) in UPF, and the aim of her research is the multiscale modelling of the mechanism that take part during intervertebral disc regulation. She explores the dynamics of the cell activity and how it contributes to the tissue turnover to specific regions of interest, by modelling and simulating bottom-up processes of tissue regulation. The results might help the biomedical field by enhancing patients’ general well-being suffering from low back pain (LBP).

Katherine Crump is the Early Stage Researcher 10 - Ph.D. candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". She received her B.S in biomedical engineering at University of Virginia, and then went on to work at a startup and do research at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute before returning to the University of Virginia for her Masters. In her Masters research, she developed a computational model of long-term muscle degeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. With Disc4All, she is very excited to apply her knowledge to combine computational modeling and tissue engineering to improve understanding of the intervertebral disc. The PhD involves an interaction of in silico modeling and evaluating parameters in vitro in organ culture models, such as glucose and lactate concentration, cell survival, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These models will be evaluated in 3D cell, tissue, and organ cultures involving mechanical stimulation.

Exarchos Kanelis is the Early Stage Researcher – 11, a PhD candidate in the Project “Disc4all”, which uses Intervertebral disc degeneration as a case study for forming a novel approach on how multifactorial disorders could be addressed. He has a BSc in “Molecular Biology & Genetics” from Democritus University of Thrace and an MSc in “Biotechnology” from the Technical University of Denmark. After his studies, he worked in Oxford - UK for two years gaining experience in assay development for biosensors and DNA/RNA sequencing products. His PhD project will take place in Protatonce, a biotechnology company located in Athens, Greece and is specialised in multiplex assay development & production , biomarker discovery, biomarker performance and compound evaluation. He will be using the Luminex technology for analysing hundreds of intracellular and extracellular proteins in order to identify differences in the proteomic profiles between healthy and LDD cells. He will also use in silico and bioinformatic tools to propose the Cell Signalling Pathways that are activated in LDD and propose mechanism-based biomarkers.

Ahmad Alminnawi is the Early Stage Researcher 12 – Ph.D. candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". Graduated with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the Lebanese American University in Lebanon (2018) and with an M.Sc. in Bioengineering from Osaka University in Japan (2021), Ahmad Alminnawi defines himself as an international person with multidisciplinary knowledge and experience. He is currently working as a researcher within a collaboration between Université de Liège and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium on the topic of "In vitro and in silico modeling of cartilage endplate degeneration mechanisms" to unravel the source of the largest cause of morbidity worldwide which is lower back pain.

Paola Bermudez-Lekerika is the Early Stage Researcher 9 - PhD candidate in the European Project "Disc4All". She graduated from the University of Navarra with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry (20.17) and Biochemisty (2019). Afterwards, she obtained her Master's Degree in Biomedical Research with a speciality in Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapies. Her current position is based in Tissue Engineering for Orthopaedics & Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern. Her research focuses on understanding the key catabolic phenotypes involved in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) and identifying in silico potential gene variants associated with this disease. Identification of these phenotypes and genetic variants could lead to a better understanding of IDD.

Aneta Toncheva

The Fulbright Commission in Ireland annually awards scholarships to Irish and EU students, scholars and professionals to study, research and lecture across all disciplines in the US. Terence McSweeney is delighted to be amongst the Fulbright Commission Ireland 23/24 awardees! He'll be off to University of California, San Francisco next year! Congratulations and good luck, Terence!

Low back pain is one of the so-called Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), the relative burden of which has steadily increased worldwide since 1990, according to the World Health Organization. To address this problem, Disc4All provides a new generation of professionals with international mobility equipped with a set of unique capabilities to tackle the prevention and management of highly complex disorders through technology. As the Disc4All project is moving forward days after days, we are extremely happy to inform you that the 3rd Winter School was held in Athens, Greece, hosted by Protavio in “NCSR” – Demokritos. From the 20th to the 24th of February 2023, it combined the internal activities of the Disc4All consortium with a series of workshops about Business strategy, Communication, Personal Development and Business Innovation. The program was as intense as enjoyable. The first days consisted of meetings, presentations, discussions and project assessment by the Project Officer Mr. Thomas Vyzikas. The internal activities were followed by two days of hard work focused on workshops and lectures. Thanks to the great cooperation of international and local experts, all the PhD candidates consolidated their knowledge in a great atmosphere. We are very thankful for the great hospitality and social event of our partners from Greece. We are now very much looking forward to seeing you during the Barcelona 7th VPH Summer School, 5-9 June 2023.

Marta Pulido (IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona)

Christine Le Maitre

Jérôme Noailly

Catedra UPF-QUAES (Spanish version)

Catedra UPF-QUAES (English version)

Liesbet Geris

UPF

UPF

IMIM

UPF

UPF