A breath of fresh air for COPD patients

RecovAir: REpairing lung damage via reCOVery of stromal heAlth to restore respIRatory function

Almost 600.000 people in the Netherlands suffer from COPD, a progressive aging-related lung disease that is the number three cause of death worldwide. The RecovAir programme intends to change this by encapsulating medication or stem cells within an ultra-thin hydrogel layer.

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This allows these compounds to reach deep into the lungs, rather than them being cleared prematurely by the human body. Once there, they will repair or replace the damaged air sacs of the lungs. Ultimately, the programme will reduce overall healthcare costs and increase the quality of life of these COPD patients as well as their participation in society.

NWO Perspectief

Perspectief is a programme of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), financed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK). This year’s budget amounts to 27 million euros, of which 23 million has been contributed by EZK and 4 million by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. A total of 115 companies, government bodies, and societal organisations are involved, contributing an additional 12 million euros. Over the upcoming years, the total budget supports the research of 106 scientists.