EducationPhD From the Oldest University in Europe for KTU Environmental Engineering Students2015-04-20, 16:35Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) has signed a double PhD studies agreement with the University of Bologna (Italy). From now on KTU Environmental Engineering PhD students will have the opportunity to study in Bologna and to acquire a double degree upon graduation. Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) together with Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) will offer a brand new undergraduate Health Informatics study programme in September 2015. The programme is unique in Lithuania and one of a few in the Baltic region. The team of VU Rector prof. Artūras Žukauskas is set up by now and started functioning! Polish duet 'Tropy' (Maciej Fortuna and Dariusz Dobroszczyk) will perform in Kaunas on 26 April under the XXV International Jazz Festival 'Kaunas Jazz'2015'. The team of Vilnius University researchers report on the preclinical study of 3D artificial micro structured scaffolds out of hybrid organic-inorganic (HOI) material SZ2080 fabricated using the DLW (direct laser writing lithography) technique. The created 2.1 × 2.1 × 0.21 mm3 membrane constructs are tested both in vitro by growing isolated allogeneic rabbit chondrocytes (Cho) and in vivo by implanting them into rabbit organisms for one, three and six months. An ex vivo histological examination shows that certain pore geometry and the pre-growing of Cho prior to implantation significantly improves the performance of the created 3D scaffolds. The achieved biocompatibility is comparable to the commercially available collagen membranes. The successful outcome of this study supports the idea that hexagonal-pore-shaped HOI micro structured scaffolds in combination with Cho seeding may be successfully implemented for cartilage tissue engineering. Further on human cells (including stem cells) biocompatibility with the scaffold has to be evaluated, to see if there are no adverse effects, and quantify the positive efficacy. Currently this research is being performed anticipating positive results in the nearest future. Over the last decade DLW employing ultrafast pulsed lasers has become a well-established technique for the creation of custom-made free-form three-dimensional (3D) micro scaffolds out of a variety of materials ranging from proteins to biocompatible glasses. Its potential applications for manufacturing a patient's specific scaffold seem unlimited in terms of spatial resolution and geometry complexity. However, despite few exceptions in which live cells or primitive organisms were encapsulated into a polymer matrix, no demonstration of an in vivo study case of scaffolds generated with the use of such a method was performed.
The Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) in Lithuania has launched a competition for students to complete an internship with NASA Ames Research Centre in the United States and is now accepting applications. The delegation of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) met the leaders of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (from the French language: Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire, known as CERN) and discussed the possibilities of cooperation. Expo Milano 2015: European Commission launches scientific debate on how to feed the planet2015-04-13, 11:47The European Commission has launched an online consultation on how science and innovation can help the EU ensuring safe, nutritious, sufficient and sustainable food globally. “Small Planet Airlines” will invest into the training of young aviation specialists at VGTU2015-04-12, 09:33The Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) has signed a cooperation agreement with the leisure carrier "Small Planet Airlines". The company, having announced this year about its development and the need for aviation specialists, has contributed nearly 29,000 euros to practical training of young aircraft pilots. Scientists from VU Institute of Biochemistry joined the R&D project INMARE funded by EU Horizon 2020 Program2015-04-11, 09:30A new international consortium of more than 20 partners from academia and industry from 12 countries, including leading multinational industrial partners, joined for a four year EUR 6M collaborative project. The project INMARE ("Industrial Applications of Marine Enzymes: innovative screening and expression platforms to discover and use the functional protein diversity from the sea") is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Program and led by Prof. Peter Golyshin and Dr. Olga Golyshina from Bangor University (Great Britain). Vilnius University will be represented by the scientists from the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (Institute of Biochemistry), headed by Dr. Rolandas Meškys. |
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