Approximately one in ten women worldwide is affected by Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as PCOS). Despite its high prevalence, significant challenges remain in diagnosis and treatment development. PMOS is a complex condition involving both reproductive and metabolic dysfunctions, with many underlying mechanisms still poorly understood.
Against this backdrop, MicroOrganoLab is proud to be part of hope4PMOS, a new research initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. The project brings together leading researchers, clinicians, public health experts, patient representatives, and industry partners from across Europe to develop new approaches for diagnosis, disease management, and therapeutic innovation.
At the official project kick-off in Leuven, MicroOrganoLab was represented by Peter Loskill and Adrian Weghofer. The lab’s contribution will focus on the development and application of advanced human tissue and organ-on-chip models, including
- WAT-on-Chip (White Adipose Tissue),
- Ovary-on-Chip,
- and Endometrium-on-Chip platforms.
These innovative in vitro systems enable highly physiologically relevant investigations of human biology and provide new opportunities to better understand the metabolic and reproductive mechanisms underlying PMOS. By integrating patient-derived data, state-of-the-art model systems, and interdisciplinary expertise, hope4PMOS aims to identify disease-relevant pathways more precisely and accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The consortium includes renowned European partner institutions such as
- KU Leuven,
- Aarhus University,
- Omniscope,
- Codingo,
- Riga Technical University,
- Nuvisan,
- University of Malta,
- the Együtt Könnyebb Női Egészségért Alapítvány,
- and Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, grant agreement No. 101288747.
Through hope4PMOS, MicroOrganoLab contributes to advancing personalized and translational research in women’s health and to developing innovative solutions for medical challenges that remain insufficiently addressed.
