Consortium
The OrChESTRA consortium brings together the worldwide known European research organisations with synergistic scientific and innovative expertise, establishing
a long-term, strategic and productive partnership.
The OrChESTRA consortium builds upon the existing strong research and innovation base of ODTÜ MEMS, TU/e, IMEC and UFR, who develop state-of-the-art approaches in complementary specialisation areas around microfluidics, including organ-on-a-chip, lab-on-a-chip, biosensors, microfabrication, BioMEMS, and tissue engineering.
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Haluk Külah
Project Technical Manager: Assoc. Dr. Ender Yıldırım
The microelectronic cleanroom infrastructure of the ODTÜ MEMS Center was established in the early 1990s. Since then, a considerable amount of knowledge and experience has been gained, and the first MEMS research and application center in Turkey was established in 2008. The available infrastructure supported with projects and investments accelerated the studies on MEMS and pioneered the establishment of today’s research center.
The total amount of continuing investment is over 60 M€ from public and private sector R&D projects as well as funds from Ministry of Development, Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, TÜBİTAK, FP6, FP7, and H2020. In 2009, ODTÜ MEMS was awarded by the EC (FP7 REGPOT) additional resources, which aimed to upgrade the RTD capacity and capability of the Center, in addition to improving its integration with the European Research Area. In 2017, the Center was qualified as a national research infrastructure by the government, becoming one of the first National Research Infrastructures in Turkey and gaining its scientific, budgetary, and managerial autonomy with a significant budget allocated.
ODTÜ MEMS Center’s competence in microfluidics, biosensors, and BioMEMS has been proven by several national and international funded projects and international publications. ODTÜ MEMS is also experienced in microfabrication methods with its extensive cleanroom capabilities. Additionally, ODTÜ MEMS plans to establish polymer-based microfabrication facility, which is highly aligned with the production needs of organ-on-a-chip technology. However, although the researchers at ODTÜ MEMS have individually worked on organ-on-a-chip systems, currently there is no established foreground research on organ-on-a-chip. OrChESTRA will enable ODTÜ MEMS to attain the necessary environment for research on organ-on-a-chip systems and expand its experience and competencies in microfabrication, microfluidics, biosensors, and BioMEMS.
Main contribution in the project:
● Scientific/technical: BioMEMS and integration of these systems with polymer (thermoplastic) based microfluidic devices.
● Coordination and project management: organization and monitoring of mobility, training/education.
Dr. Hans Markus Wyss
Department of Mechanical Engineering
https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/microsystems/
Dr. Wolfgang Eberle
Department of Public Funded R&D Policies and Programs
Dr. Can Dinçer
Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK
https://www.imtek.uni-freiburg.de/junior-research-groups/dincer