Flagship projects

Muscle organoids: recreating muscle in the laboratory

Orgomus: recreating a functional synthetic muscle to restore mobility

Orgomus aims to rebuild, in the laboratory, transplantable muscle tissue able to organise itself, contract and integrate into the body. The goal is to offer a solution where muscle can no longer regenerate on its own.

Scientific challenge

In severe muscle loss (trauma, burns, major surgery, neuromuscular diseases), muscle can no longer repair itself. No technique currently makes it possible to rebuild functional muscle over a large area. This limitation stems from the complexity of the tissue: its fibres must be aligned, organised and supported by an intact extracellular matrix. Without that framework, regeneration is impossible.

Key questions to unravel

The team wants to determine how to recreate a complete muscle environment: a matrix that guides the alignment of the fibres, cells able to colonise that scaffold, and conditions that allow the tissue to survive after transplantation. It is also seeking to understand how to establish a blood supply, an essential step for the transplanted muscle to remain functional over the long term.

Scientific and methodological approach

The researchers have developed a patented artificial collagen matrix that mimics the structure of muscle. They introduce several cell types into it (muscle stem cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, fibro-adipogenic progenitors) in order to reproduce the diversity of the tissue. This “muscle under construction” gradually organises itself, aligns and forms fibres capable of contracting. The tissue is then transplanted in order to assess its survival, its integration and its function. The analyses show persistence of the implanted cells, infiltration by the host tissue and signs of functional recovery. The project is now focusing on blood supply and on standardising the method with a view to a future clinical application.

Beyond its direct applications, the project represents a foundational advance for regenerative medicine, removing a barrier identified long ago: the reconstruction of a functional muscle. It is thus part of a broader effort to complement the approaches already developed for other tissues, by providing a solution for an element that is central to motor function.
Bruno Cadot, researcher at the Institute of Myology and head of the imaging facility

Expected impact on research and clinical practice

Orgomus could ultimately make it possible to restore lost muscle function, moving from a compensation-based approach to genuine reconstruction of the muscle. This approach could transform the management of severe muscle loss and open the way to regenerative medicine for muscle. A first clinical trial could target a small muscle of the thumb, an ideal candidate for an initial application.