Descrizione del progetto
Introdurre la nuova era della terapia genica
La terapia genica promette di rivoluzionare la medicina moderna. Rappresenta un cambiamento di paradigma nell’approccio al trattamento delle malattie, in quanto affronta le cause alla radice delle stesse, invece di concentrarsi sul trattamento dei sintomi. Con un potenziale ineguagliabile sia per la cura che per l’impatto economico, questa rivoluzionaria biotecnologia medica richiede ricerca e innovazione all’avanguardia per affrontare le migliaia di gravi malattie umane. In quest’ottica, il progetto GeneT, finanziato dall’UE, creerà un polo di ricerca e innovazione sulla terapia genica unico nel suo genere nella regione Centro del Portogallo. Con sede presso l’Università di Coimbra, GeneT unisce l’eccellenza scientifica alla cooperazione internazionale per sperimentare nuove soluzioni di terapia genica in grado di alleviare le sofferenze e favorire la crescita economica.
Obiettivo
The main goal of the present project is the creation of a Gene Therapy research & innovation hub rooted in a Center of Excellence (CoE) located in the CENTRO (center) region of Portugal – the GeneT. This CoE will capitalize on the already existing RD&I capacity in the field at the University of Coimbra (UC) – the regional (and national) pivot of the innovation potential and knowledge transfer in Red Biotechnology – and act as an (inter)national enabler of scientific and business excellence in Gene Therapy innovation and manufacturing.
Gene Therapy is the latest revolution in the treatment of severe human diseases with the highest curative and economic potential in the health sector. Extraordinary results have already been achieved in the treatment of a few neurological, ophthalmic, hepatic, oncological and hematological disorders with outstanding clinical and economic impacts. UC, notably its Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, has proven scientific excellence in specific areas of the field, and a matchless ecosystem to strive in this high added-value sector, which encompasses the Coimbra University Hospitals and the Biotechnology Park BIOCANT, recognized as the epicenter of the biotech industry in Portugal.
To achieve its goal, the project will team-up with the University of Sheffield, home of the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre, a UK pioneer hub dedicated to advancing the clinical development of new genetic treatments, and the University of Eastern Finland, which hosts the Finish National Virus Vector Laboratory with viral vector GMP production capacity and scale-up (key to gene therapy development). These two top European institutions are international references in the field at fundamental, translational and innovation levels.
GeneT will thus become a beacon of excellent in Gene Therapy R&I, with enormous impact in the decrease of mortality and suffering, while contributing to the economic recovery and growth of Portugal and the EU.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-01-two-stage
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoMeccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinatore
3004-531 Coimbra
Portogallo