"The ultimate goal is to enhance treatment options for patients with osteoarthritis"

With over 1.5 million patients in the Netherlands, osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition. However, there are currently limited treatment possibilities available. Pain relief often remains the sole option. Medical Delta PhD candidate Margo Tuerlings (LUMC) is developing a microfluidic chip that can search for patient-specific medication. "The ultimate goal is to develop a better treatment plan for individuals with osteoarthritis."

This interview is the tenth in a series of interviews with PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers funded by Medical Delta. Margo's research is funded through the scientific program Medical Delta Regenerative Medicine 4D: Generating complex tissues with stem cells and printing technology.

What is your research about, and how did you become interested in this topic?

"My fascination with biology began in high school. I initially pursued a career as an operating room assistant but soon realized I was seeking a greater challenge. That's when I discovered the Biomedical Engineering program at TU Eindhoven. I quickly realized that 'bone and cartilage' encompassed everything that interested me: biology, mechanics, and technology.

My research falls within the theme of 'osteoarthritis' in the research consortium of Medical Delta Regenerative Medicine 4D. We have two research lines within this consortium. The first focuses on characterizing the disease process and identifying 'druggable targets.' These targets are genes identified as risk genes for osteoarthritis, serving as potential targets for medication. The second research line, which I primarily work on, involves developing a disease model for osteoarthritis. Multiple forms of osteoarthritis require different treatment approaches. I am trying to optimize a microfluidic chip for stem cells, enabling the search for the appropriate medication for each specific form of osteoarthritis."

I am working towards an ideal scenario where patient-specific medication for osteoarthritis is available

What do you hope to achieve with your research?

"Osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition with a lack of effective medication. Currently, pain relief and occasional replacement surgeries provide temporary solutions. However, there is currently no genuine medication available to permanently reduce osteoarthritis. I aim to work towards an ideal scenario where patient-specific medication for osteoarthritis is available. For example, consider a family that develops osteoarthritis at a young age. Cells are extracted from this family, and stem cells are generated to identify druggable targets. Subsequently, two cell lines are produced: the first is modified through the CRISPR-Cas technique to become 'healthy cells,' while the second cell line is tested with medication using the microfluidic chip and compared to the healthy cell line. This allows us to determine which medication works best for each patient. Ultimately, I hope that this approach will enable us to find the best medication for every patient."

What are your experiences regarding collaboration within the Medical Delta program?

"Within the research group, we work with different teams. We regularly come together to discuss the research process. I find this incredibly educational, and I would recommend every researcher to regularly engage in discussions with various groups about their research process. Collaboration allows us to make progress in our research. It is crucial not only to present the substantive results but also to reflect together on the research process itself: the challenges we encounter and how to overcome them."

Within Medical Delta, the threshold for collaboration is low. When attending events, I often see familiar faces, making it easy to initiate conversations and explore possible collaborations. You can learn a great deal from different perspectives. This way, you also get to know individuals with specific expertise who can provide insights when you encounter challenges in your research."

The previous interviewee, Anneke Schouten, is curious: Who do you advocate for in your research?

"At the moment, there are over 1.5 million people in the Netherlands alone who suffer from osteoarthritis, with pain relievers often being the only available medication. I aim to change that. The goal of my research is to develop a better treatment plan for individuals with osteoarthritis. I strive to recognition of the different forms of osteoarthritis and the specific medication that suits each form. Ultimately, I hope to improve the quality of life for this significant group of people who have received insufficient attention thus far."