In Europe about 75% of all neonatal deaths and 60% of all infant deaths occur in infants born preterm, and worldwide 450 neonatal deaths occur every hour. The number of preterm births is growing despite advances in medicine as more pregnancies are in the later age but also due to increasing environmental threats and lack of suitable treatments.
In the LIFESAVER vision, every pregnant woman must have a proper living environment with the minimal risks to the fetus. In addition, she is safeguarded with scientifically justified regulations that are in use and control of potentially risky chemical and medicinal products, leading to healthier quality lives of the babies, overarching for generations. The LIFESAVER addresses the presently unmet societal and healthcare needs in creating and developing of a validated scientific knowledge base for the development and implementation of regulatory approaches relevant to maternal and fetal health. The objective is in creation of new, digitally cloned in vitro system for emulation of the pre-natal conditions in the vicinity of uterine/placental area and an interface capable of future high bio-fidelity prediction regarding both safety and risk of substances towards unborn babies.
LIFESAVER concept is based on an original idea of hybridization of several innovative technologies, integrating digital in silico/in vitro (bio-digital twin) systems, enabling effective screening of chemicals and pharmaceuticals which might affect pregnant women health. This technology would support reducing animal, preclinical and clinical testing which is not presently possible with any other existing approaches to the same level of confidence.
