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Biomaterials for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease

 

Specific challenge: An estimated 7.3 million Europeans between 30 and 99 years of age suffered from different types of dementias in the EU27 in 2006 (14.6 per 1 000 inhabitants), most of these being of the Alzheimer’s variety. Innovative approaches based on biomaterials can improve the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Scope: Proposals should develop new multifunctional biomaterials, as part of eventual Medical Devices and Advanced Therapies, which aim to create, optimise, enhance, substitute or support preventive and therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer’s disease. They can include: biocompatible and biodegradable biomaterials as part of minimally invasive treatments, theragnostic materials, and biocompatible materials that are easily degraded/cleared after completing their roles. The development of new drug candidates for Alzheimer’s and clinical trials are excluded.

The development of new integrated experimental and computational approaches aimed to describe interface processes and their determinants should be considered as the key step for the design of safe and performing materials. Experimental protocols should be planned taking due account of current good laboratory practice (GLP) and ISO guidelines. Standardisation and manufacturing processes can be addressed, including upscaling, good manufacturing practice (GMP), process analytical technology (PAT), and regulatory work in respect of relevant regulations as appropriate.

For this topic, proposals should include an outline of the initial exploitation and business plans, which will be developed further in the proposed project.

Activities expected to focus on Technology Readiness Level 5.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 6 and 8 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

                Improved quality of life due to minimally invasive action;

                Reduced direct and indirect costs linked to the disease and its treatment;

                Implementation of relevant objectives of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (COM (2012) 83).

Type of action: Research & Innovation Actions