Fitness in science: growing muscles in the lab

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About the research

Jasper Smet (KU Leuven - Kulak - FWO) is working (out) in the lab: he wants to grow 3D human muscles to help those with muscle diseases and injuries. By piecing together tiny muscle sections in the lab, he aims to create realistic human muscle models. These could be used to unravel how muscles work, test the effect of drugs, and one day perform transplants in people with severe muscle injuries. Muscle up!

Jasper Smet
FWO - KU Leuven

Jasper Smet draws inspiration from both culinary arts and scientific exploration. His passion for experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen mirrors his fascination with cellular manipulation in the laboratory. At present, Jasper's research is centered on building a human skeletal muscle, aiming to establish a robust model for drug efficacy testing and uncovering the intricate mechanisms underlying muscle function. Beyond its potential as a research tool, this engineered muscle holds promise as a muscle transplant in individuals grappling with profound muscle injuries. Altogether, this could accelerate the cure of patients with muscle diseases and provide an answer to the ever increasing waiting list for tissue transplantations.