The Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca is strengthening its role in the European NeurotechEU Alliance, participating in three of the 10 international projects selected for funding under a call focused on advancing education in neurotechnology.
The projects bring together partners from universities across the alliance and aim to develop innovative educational programmes based on international collaboration, interdisciplinary learning and cutting-edge technologies. Through these initiatives, students and academic staff will gain access to new training opportunities at the intersection of medicine, neuroscience and engineering.
Fundamentals of Bioengineering Brain Organoids
The first project, Fundamentals of Bioengineering Brain Organoids, is coordinated by Karolinska Institutet, in partnership with Boğaziçi University, Miguel Hernández University of Elche and the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca.
The two-week programme combines online theoretical training with practical laboratory work at UMF Cluj. Participants will develop skills in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), cortical organoid cultivation, imaging techniques and modern neurotechnology applications.
The interdisciplinary course is designed to support the development of advanced experimental models that could help reduce reliance on animal testing and accelerate biomedical research.
The UMF Cluj team includes Associate Professor Ștefan Strilciuc and Dr Dragoș-Nelu Font.
Advances in Experimental Microsurgery
The second project, Advances in Experimental Microsurgery, is being developed jointly by the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Karolinska Institutet and Boğaziçi University.
The programme consists of one week of online theoretical training followed by one week of practical activities at UMF Cluj. Participants will learn advanced microsurgical techniques, ranging from submillimetre dissections on Drosophila to in vivo microvascular anastomosis in murine models.
The course is structured around progressively more complex procedures and aims to develop the precision and dexterity required for experimental research and translational medicine, while bringing together knowledge from neuroscience, surgery and neurotechnology.
The practical training will be carried out in collaboration with UMF Cluj’s Biobase and the Romanian Student Society of Surgery (SSCR).
The UMF Cluj team includes Professor Ioan Ștefan Florian, Dr Alexandra Călăuz and Dr Dragoș-Nelu Font.
NeuroCarers – education based on real-world challenges and support for caregivers of people with neurodegenerative diseases
The third project, NeuroCarers: Co-Creation of Challenge-Based Learning Materials on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Carers’ Burden, and Neurotechnologies, is being developed jointly by the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca and Miguel Hernández University of Elche.
The initiative will develop innovative educational materials and introduce a Challenge-Based Learning model. Students of medicine, nursing and other health professions will examine the impact of neurodegenerative diseases on patients and their families, compare existing care models and assess how neurotechnologies can support patients and caregivers.
The project will be implemented in three stages: investigation, integration and creation. During the final stage, students from Romania and Spain will work directly with caregivers of people with neurodegenerative diseases to develop a Caregiving Toolkit, a practical guide available in Romanian, Spanish and English in both digital and printed formats.
The materials will be published on the Campus+ platform, while the project will conclude with an international dissemination event in Cluj-Napoca. The initiative is also expected to provide the basis for the development of a future optional course.
The UMF Cluj team includes Dr Simona Ciotlăuș, Associate Professor Adina Stan, Associate Professor Adrian Pană, Associate Professor Silvina Iluț and Assistant Professor Iulia Vădan.
Strengthening European education in neurotechnology
The three projects highlight UMF Cluj’s role in developing a European ecosystem for neurotechnology education and research. Through collaboration with partner universities in the NeurotechEU Alliance, the university is contributing to the development of modern training programmes focused on emerging healthcare challenges and the preparation of a new generation of specialists able to translate research into practical solutions with wider societal impact.
