Project description
Gene-editing nanotechnology for personalised brain therapy
The revolutionary CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology has enormous potential for treating many genetic diseases. However, delivery of CRISPR machinery to diseased cells within the brain is one of the greatest challenges in medicine today. The EU-funded BrainCRISPR research project will develop a ‘smart’ gold nano-sized platform to safely and efficiently shuttle CRISPR machinery across the highly impenetrable blood-brain barrier, into deep brain regions and diseased brain cells, for effective genome editing. This innovative BrainCRISPR nanoplatform can have a transformative effect on treatment of devastating genetic brain diseases, bringing hope to patients and families with few options.
Objective
Genetic brain diseases are among the most devastating and fatal diseases, typically having only palliative treatments and no cure. The revolutionary CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology provides a new horizon and enormous potential for treating such diseases. However, efficient and safe delivery of CRISPR machinery to diseased cells within the brain is one of the greatest challenges in medicine today. Here, I plan to expand far beyond the state-of-the-art, and propose a game-changer approach for this unmet need: A breakthrough nanoplatform, which will transform CRISPR into a clinically-relevant, non-invasive technology, enabling therapeutic genome editing in the brain. Our proof-of-concept results serve as the baseline of this pioneering research project, revealing the exceptional capabilities of insulin as a key to overcoming formidable brain and cell barriers. We will harness these unique abilities within the novel nanoplatform, and shuttle CRISPR machinery across the blood-brain barrier, transport it into deep brain regions, and mediate its successful entry into specific diseased brain cells, leading to highly effective gene editing. The nanoplatform will be designed to meet key criteria for non-invasive, safe and efficient delivery of CRISPR to the brain, while conferring a high degree of modularity and compositional heterogeneity - thus providing both universal and patient-specific components. The nanoplatform will be thoroughly investigated in primary brain cells, 3D organoids, and case-studies of monogenic brain disease models. This comprehensive research will culminate with a universal and modular BrainCRISPR nanoplatform, and delineate design principles for its precise tailoring to specific needs of different brain diseases. Overall, this research will provide in-depth fundamental knowledge and have a transformative effect on applying CRISPR in brain, whilst opening a wide array of possibilities with broader impact on genetic brain therapy and beyond.
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.
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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-2021-COG
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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.
52900 Ramat Gan
Israel
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.