ENVOL Project: Maison MGA at the Heart of the “Organs-on-a-Chip” Revolution

As regulatory and ethical pressures push the industry to move away from animal testing, a major technological breakthrough is emerging in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Maison MGA, through its subsidiary MGA MedTech, is partnering with the ENVOL project to bring the skin of the future to market: a digital, innervated 3D model.

Ethics in the Service of Performance

The ENVOL project (Epidermis Neurone Vascularization On digital Library) is not merely a response to societal expectations; it is an unprecedented scientific breakthrough. Led by a leading consortium comprising the Icare Group, the LBTI (Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering), and MGA MedTech, this program aims to create 3D skin models of absolute realism.

Unlike current models, this next-generation skin is:

• Innervated: It possesses nerve sensitivity.
• Immunocompetent: It is capable of reacting to threats like a human immune system.
• Connected: It incorporates a “digital signature” that allows for the measurement of electrophysiological activity in real time.

MGA MedTech’s Role

Innovation only makes sense if it is accessible on a large scale. This is where MGA MedTech’s expertise comes into play. To move from a laboratory proof of concept to a standardized testing tool for the giants of the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, high-precision devices must be designed.

Dr. Sylvain Ursuegui, an expert at MGA MedTech, leads this crucial transition. The challenge is to design the architecture of these “chips” and automate the processes to ensure perfect reproducibility of biocompatibility tests.

“Our mission is to transform this biological complexity into a reliable industrial solution. We create the technological framework that allows biology to manifest itself and be measured with digital precision.” Dr. Sylvain Ursuegui

A Strategic Investment for the Region

With €2 million in funding from the regional government and the national government as part of the France 2030 plan, the ENVOL project is a powerful symbol. It positions the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region as the global leader in alternatives to animal testing.

For Maison MGA’s clients, this project confirms a clear vision: the future of healthcare will hinge on the convergence of precision engineering, digital technology, and cutting-edge biology.

To learn more:

• On tissue engineering: Prof. Edith Filaire (ICARE Group)
• On academic research: Dr. Bérengère Fromy & Prof. Jérôme Lamartine (LBTI)
• On commercialization: Dr. Sylvain Ursuegui (MGA MedTech)

Communique-Lancement-Projet-ENVOL