AMELIE

AMELIE (Anchored Muscle cELls for IncontinencE) is a 5-year collaborative research project funded by the European Union Framework Programme (Horizon 2020). It involves the collaboration of 13 organisations across nine countries to develop and carry out research. The project will be co-ordinated by UCL and led by Richard Day, Professor of Regenerative Medicine Technology at UCL. The consortium proposes a novel regenerative intervention using autologous skeletal muscle derived cells (ASMDC) to restore the function of the sphincter muscle. Scientists will attach ASMDC to implantable microcarriers to improve cell delivery and engraftment in patients with faecal incontinence. This will be tested in a randomised clinical trial. The strategy is expected to improve cell viability and increase the likelihood of muscle regeneration, contributing to improved continence. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 874807.