PRosPERoS-II Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland

PRosPERoS develops personalized bio-active bone implants for functional recovery. 

PRosPERoS-II, a continuation of the highly successful PRosPERoS-I project, is a large research project led by Maastricht UMC+ in the field of 'smart,' 3D-printed implants for orthopedic applications is continued. The research focuses on the development of biologically active implants that can be customized to the needs of each individual patient. If successful, this will lead to faster rehabilitation and a reduction in the need for additional surgeries. As a result, PRosPERoS-II makes a significant societal contribution to healthy aging.

Degenerative joint conditions pose an inevitable problem in an aging population, including issues with the hip, back, or knee. While placing a prosthesis or implant can be a solution for patients, the current generation of implants unfortunately has a limited lifespan, often requiring replacement at least once. This replacement process is seldom easy and can result in significant bone defects. The standard treatment for bone repair surgeries involves using the patient's own bone or synthetic fillers in combination with medical implants. These are often lengthy operations with a high risk of infection shortly after or in the long term. Treating such infections is a challenging process associated with prolonged hospitalization and high healthcare costs. There is a clear need for a new generation of medical smart implants. Ideally, these implants should be specifically tailored to the patient's anatomical shape, accelerate the healing process, and prevent infections.

From multidisciplinary research to application in the hospital

The PRosPERoS project closely aligns with the agreement between the provinces of Flemish Brabant and Dutch Limburg to strengthen developments in regenerative medicine in the region.

Researchers aim to present the first application of the implants in the clinic within four years. Additionally, this project stimulates economic development in the region and beyond through innovation and knowledge-sharing, creating direct and indirect employment opportunities at the involved companies and research institutions. International collaboration in this field further enhances the vitality of the region.

The PRosPERoS project is financed by the following partners: The European investment fund Interreg Netherlands-Flanders invests almost 2.3 million euros in the project, half of the total investment. Additionally, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (NL), the Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (B), and the Provinces of North Brabant (NL) and Flemish Brabant (B) jointly invest an additional 1 million euros into the project.

Other partners in the project include:

• MUMC/AZM
• Admatec
• Antleron
• Brainport Eindhoven
• Fited
• KU Leuven
• Medanex Clinic
• Replasia
• Smart Biomaterials Consortium
• TU Delft
• TU Eindhoven
• UMC Utrecht