Project description
Addressing barrier integrity issues in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration
The macula is the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision. Damage to the macula can gradually occur as an individual ages, resulting in vision problems that significantly impact daily life. Research into age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has shown that disrupted endothelial barrier integrity is a significant driving force behind this condition. Based on this discovery, scientists of the EU-funded Opti-AAV project are working towards a novel therapy approach for AMD that involves the local delivery of exosome-encapsulated endothelial cell-specific adeno-associated virus into the blood–retina barrier. The aim is to enable the efficient transduction of retinal endothelial cells, thus preventing the progression of the disease.
Objective
While the blood neural barriers represent significant hurdles for the development of gene therapies for neurological and ophthalmological conditions it is now becoming clear that many of these conditions actually present with disrupted barrier integrity as the driving force of the pathology. Included in these diseases is age related macular degeneration (AMD), in which we have shown that the blood retina barrier (BRB) is sub-clinically disrupted and is a key driving force for disease progression (ERC funded Retina Rhythm project). Specifically related to this Proof of Concept grant, a novel form of therapy for the end stage of AMD, namely geographic atrophy (GA), is now desperately needed. A targeted approach to locally delivering adeno associated virus (AAV) to endothelial cells of the BRB would offer the opportunity to restore barrier function and prevent disease. However, the current tools available to achieve this localized approach to gene therapy are not optimum. Here we will use an exosome encapsulated and endothelial cell specific AAV to achieve robust transduction of retinal endothelial cells. This modified and optimized AAV (Opti-AAV) will represent a novel tool in translating recently identified biological mechanisms into real and meaningful therapies for patients.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
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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)
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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.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-2022-POC1
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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.
D02 CX56 Dublin
Ireland
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.