Project description
Gene therapy for cardiac diseases
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease associated with enlargement of the chambers of the heart. This means that the heart doesn't contract normally and cannot pump blood very well, often leading to heart failure. The EU-funded Cor-Edit-P project is working towards a gene therapy approach for correcting mutations in cardiomyocyte genes associated with dilate cardiomyopathy. Researchers will test a curative gene-editing strategy employing adeno-associated viral vectors in porcine models of the disease. The ultimate goal is to translate into the clinic protocols capable of improving cardiac function, reducing the risk of arrhythmias and increasing the quality of life of affected individuals.
Objective
Heart failure represents a common cause of death in European societies and is frequently based on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which might be caused by mutations in cardiomyocyte genes. While no specific treatment exists, new therapeutic options are a major unmet clinical need.
As attractive novel key approach, Cor-Edit-P will use Crispr-Cas9 based gene editing for distinct gene therapy of genetic cardiomyopathy, using pigs as a unique, clinic-related large animal model system. My lab tailored highly cardiotropic adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors and their use in pigs in vivo, applying precise, reliable and versatile Cas9 technology. Pioneering this approach, we were able to restore significant dystrophin expression in muscles and hearts of pigs suffering from Duchenne muscle dystrophy.
Exploiting unique and cutting-edge technology, Cor-edit-P aims at specifically eliminating the underlying cause of genetic DCM to improve cardiac function, reduce the risk of deadly arrhythmias and increase span and quality of life.
Cor-edit-P will
- generate currently lacking porcine models of genetic cardiomyopathy, using AAV-Cas9 to induce mutations in sarcomere genes, e.g. titin (TTN) and ß-myosin heavy chain (MYH7);
- exercise curative Crispr-Cas9 mediated gene editing of DCM in pigs in vivo, using the PLN-R14del mutation in the phospholamban (PLN) gene as prominent example;
- use human patient-derived PLN-R14del ventricular progenitor cells for gene correction ex vivo followed by transplantation of corrected cells into PLN-R14del pigs.
Our approach implements a new paradigm for treating genetic cardiomyopathy and develops Crispr-Cas9 based gene therapy in pigs to foster clinical translation. Our work will influence the development of gene therapy by industry and academia and will benefit patients suffering genetic cardiomyopathy, but also further genetic diseases which are manifold prevalent in Europe.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases cardiac arrhythmia
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
81675 MUENCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.