Objective Curative therapies still do not exist for most CNS diseases but gene therapy is a promising new approach. We propose that it will be possible to modify brain function and pathophysiology by targeted delivery of specific curative factors to selected populations of brain cells that are affected by disease. This opens the door for effective treatment regimes, which can be tailored to individual patients needs. However, currently available gene transfer vectors have limitations regarding safety and efficacy, as they do not allow for targeting of specific populations of neurons or glia or regulation of transgene expression. The NEUGENE consortium has been founded by leading European scientists from academia and industry to overcome these limitations. The consortium will develop Adeno-associated virus (AAV) and Lentivirus (LV)- based tools for targeted and regulated gene transfer into different populations of CNS cells. The consortium will provide a selection of vectors that are optimized for different therapeutic approaches, e.g. regulated expression of neurotrophic factors or manipulation of neurotransmitter synthesis in specific neurons. NEUGENE has three major goals:1) targeting gene transfer vectors to specific populations of neurons and glia, by transcriptional regulation and miRNA-mediated de-targeting and by exploiting the cell-specific tropism of novel types of viral vectors, 2) tight control over expression levels of therapeutic genes by using regulated systems based on different principles, and 3) establishing the safety of the novel vector tools. NEUGENE will verify the functional efficacy of the novel CNS gene transfer tools in a well-established animal model of Parkinson's Disease (PD). This disorder affects over 1.000.000 Europeans and is increasing in prevalence with the aging population. Importantly, principles and mechanisms developed and evaluated within the consortium will also be of direct relevance for gene therapy of many other brain disorder. Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologypathophysiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinson Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH-2007-1.4-5 - Gene therapy tools targeting the central nervous system Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2007-B See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN GOETTINGEN - GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAET GOETTINGEN - STIFTUNG OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS EU contribution € 690 800,00 Address Robert-Koch-Strasse 40 37075 Goettingen Germany See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Christiane Hennecke (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University Sweden EU contribution € 700 800,00 Address Paradisgatan 5c 22100 LUND See on map Region Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Eva Nordin (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE United Kingdom EU contribution € 300 000,00 Address EGHAM HILL UNIVERSITY OF LONDON TW20 0EX Egham See on map Region South East (England) Surrey, East and West Sussex West Surrey Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jenny Febry (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES France EU contribution € 756 000,00 Address RUE LEBLANC 25 75015 PARIS 15 See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Olivier Leroy (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Switzerland EU contribution € 452 400,00 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Patrick Aebischer (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data OXFORD BIOMEDICA (UK) LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 100 000,00 Address OXFORD SCIENCE PARK MEDAWAR OX4 4GA OXFORD See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Peter Nolan (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data