Descrizione del progetto
Sviluppo di vettori non virali per la terapia genica
La terapia genica, o trasferimento genico, comporta la somministrazione terapeutica di acidi nucleici nelle cellule di un paziente che agiscono come un farmaco per trattare la malattia. Attualmente, la maggior parte degli approcci di trasferimento genico utilizza virus adeno-associati e lentivirus per l’inserimento di geni in vivo ed ex vivo. Il progetto SUPRO-GEN, finanziato dall’UE, mira a progettare vettori supramolecolari non virali per l’immunoterapia e la terapia con cellule staminali tumorali a bassa tossicità e alta efficacia di trasfezione. I ricercatori impiegheranno l’ingegneria peptidica e la glico-ingegnerizzazione dei vettori per ottenere un’alta efficacia di targeting tumorale, mentre il traffico cellulare e il destino dei vettori saranno tracciati da tecniche avanzate di imaging. Il progetto prevede inoltre la formazione di professionisti altamente qualificati nell’interfaccia della scienza dei materiali, dell’ingegneria e delle scienze biologiche.
Obiettivo
Gene therapy, most commonly using viral vectors, can be applied to inhibit or edit the expression of any gene of interest, being highly specific. However, there is an urgent need to find non-viral vectors with low toxicity and high transfection and targeting efficacies. The SUPRO-GEN project aims to design supramolecular vectors for gene delivery for applications in immunotherapy and cancer stem cell therapy. Peptide and glyco engineering of the vectors will result in high tumor targeting efficacy. Transfection and therapeutic efficacy will be tested in vitro and in vivo. Cell trafficking and biological fate of vectors will be studied by advanced imaging techniques.
SUPRO-GEN is a concerted action based on multidisciplinary expertise in materials science, chemistry, genetic engineering, cancer biology, cancer therapy, and imaging. The project will bring together a talented consortium of academic groups and a high-tech SME from Spain, Italy, Israel, the United States, South Africa, Argentina and Thailand.
Early Stage and Experienced researchers will receive training and conduct research in a hosting institution abroad. In addition to achieving the scientific goals, the project also aims to develop highly skilled professionals at the interface of materials science and engineering and the biological sciences.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomolecules
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)Coordinatore
20009 San Sebastian
Spagna